London, May 11.
The present state of negotiations between Britain and Russia, as indicated in the communique issued in Moscow yesterday and by Mr. Neville Chafnberlain's statement in the House of Commons, forms the subject of editorials in all leading morning newspapers here today.
Mr. Chamberlain's Statement, says "The Times," makes it clear that if some small misunderstanding seems to exist in Moscow, there is nothing that really resembles a deadlock.
The Soviet non-aggression scheme, which is a more comprehensive one than the British scheme, the journal raised difficulties which Such a declaration," the Prime Minister continued, "if the Soviet Government feels able to make it, seems to the British Government to be in accord with the recent pronouncement of M. Stalin that it was the policy of the Soviet Government to support countries which might be the victims of aggression, and which were prepared to defend their own Independence."
Almost simultaneously, the Soviet Government suggested a scheme which at once was more comprehensive and more rigid than the British proposals.
Whatever its other advantages, it must at present, in the view of the British Government, inevitably raise the very difficulties which their own proposals had been designed to avoid.
The Government had accordingly pointed out to the Soviet Government the existence of these difficulties, At the same time, they made certain modifications in their original pro posals. the British Government wished to avoid, but negotiations have gone far, and have shown no divergence whatever between the two Governments on the principle that violence and aggression must be forcibly resisted.
It can now be regarded as well-established that the sudden dimi: of M. Litvinov from his Soviet Foreign Commissar "Daily Telegraph," does not represent a departure by the Russian Government from collaboration with Western Powers in resisting aggression, Indeed, the journal declares, evidence points the other way. M. Molotov, the Foreign Commissar, seems if anything more anxious than his predecessor to hasten matters to a conclusion. Mr. Chamberlain's statement, it adds, ought to clear and allay difficulties and facilitate an agreement at an early date.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.