News From Russia
The criticism by Mr. Walter Duranty in the last issue of the Spectator regarding the character of a good deal of the Russian news in the British Press, finds some con- firmation in an incident recorded since. According to a Riga message given prominence in The Times of last Saturday, a British concession, known as the Tetiukhc Mining Corporation, was liquidated by the Soviet Govern- ment after several years of successful working.
" In 1930," it is stated, the Soviet Government, having forced the Lena Goldfield concessionaires out of the 'U.S.S.R., began a campaign against the Totiukhe Corporation and published reports alleging that it had been in conflict with its workmen. Finally, at the end of last December the Corporation suspended operations. The Commissar of Heavy Industry announces that a premature liquida- tion was arranged by agreement with the Corporation."
The last sentence is clearly added as merely the Soviet version of the case. It appears, however, to be an entirely accurate statement, for the managing director of the Corporation writes in The Times of Wednesday that negotiations for the surrender of the concession were opened by mutual consent and resulted in an agreement perfectly satisfactory to the company. The matter is not of "great importance, but it confirms Mr. Duranty's comments on the inaccuracies regarding Russia that find their way so often into the British Press.
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