Curzonophobia

The Marquis Curzon in effigy was taken for an airing by the irate communists of Moscow; subsequently he was hanged. Bolshevik remarks were hurled not only at the static Curzon but also at the dynamic one in the London Foreign Office. Even Tehicherin, Soviet Foreign Minister, aristocrat though he is, reviled his noble colleague in no complimentary terms.

While the angry voice of Moscow is busy telling the world exactly what it thinks of this eminent British statesman, British labor of the more radical order is pouring forth its own candid thoughts on the British Foreign Secretary. Making adequate allowances for this eloquent and angry tornado of censure from communists, there is no denying that the marquis is distinctly unpopular with the radical proletariat in Russia and Britain.

The cause of this outburst is Lord Curzon's recent note to the Soviet Government. The reason for sending the note was the seizure of a British trawler.

The British note accused the Bolsheviki of violating the terms of the Anglo-Russian commercial agreement, and, of course, with seizing the trawler. The note was a virtual ultimatum, which incensed the Soviet Government. "Don't dictate," say the Bolsheviki, "we are ready to negotiate on equal terms, but we will not be led!" That is the gist of the Soviet reply to Curzon. Much capital has been made out of a British warship, which is now in the White Sea, but it is certain that neither Britain nor Russia has any intention of going to war. The most that can happen is the abrogation of the trade agreement and the consequent withdrawal of the British Commercial Mission from Russia. Russia has proved no El Dorado to British interests, so that the entire question ceases to have any grave import. Russia maintains that her territorial waters extend to twelve miles from the coast line, whereas the international agreement on territorial waters states three miles.

The Russians have not forgotten Lord Curzon's last note on Soviet-land, which was, it was alleged, founded largely upon hearsay.