INTERNATIONAL: Usual Oriental Bargaining

• Share

An important plank in the British Labor Government's election platform was the resumption of diplomatic relations with Russia. Negotiations toward that end were started between grizzled British Foreign Secretary Arthur Henderson and unctuous Soviet Ambassador to France Valerian Devgalevsky. Because of Britain's insistence that Russia give definite promise to cease Communist propaganda in the British Empire before ambassadors be appointed. Russian insistence that her national dignity demanded an exchange of ambassadors before discussing definite points of agreement, negotiations were quickly deadlocked (TIME, Aug. 5). Russia's Devgalevsky packed his briefcases, went back to France. Said Plump "Uncle Arthur" Henderson:

''Negotiations with the Soviet Government have started. They have temporarily broken down. There will follow the usual oriental bargaining."

Last week M. Devgalevsky was back in London talking busily with "Uncle Arthur'' Henderson. "Oriental bargaining" produced two points of definite agreement : 1) Russia agreed to withdraw all Soviet agents at present engaged in communist propaganda in India; to give no further help, directly or indirectly, to Indian Communists. 2) Britain agreed to the exchange of ambassadors before discussing the delicate subject of Russia's pre-War debts.

There still remains the official approval of these steps by the British House of Commons against certain Conservative opposition. But Foreign Secretary Henderson & Soviet Ambassador Devgalevsky seemed pleased with their week's work.