Winnie Shouts

"Red-hot," "redheaded" Winston Churchill, ultra-reactionary Chancellor of the British Exchequer, alarmist par excellence, hurled defiance at the Soviet government last week in terms so abusive as to make a diplomatic protest from Russia all but inevitable.

Before an audience in London he literally shouted:

"I hope I shall live to see the day when either there will be a civilized government in Russia or when we shall have ended this present pretense of friendly relations with men who are seeking our overthrow. . . . "What folly Lloyd George committed when he brought these Russian intriguers into our midst! . . . "I have to add this warning. Persons who lend money to Russia, as they are entitled to do, must be alive to the risks they run and understand that, in no circumstances, will the British Treasury accept any responsibility if they are defrauded."

This tirade followed a reply by the Soviet government to Britain's note of protest (TIME, June 21) against the alleged contribution by the Soviet government itself of funds to support striking British workers. Like the British note the Soviet reply was couched in mild terms. The Soviet government denied that it had sent the funds in question, but refused to take steps to prevent its closely interlocked labor organizations from sending "Red gold" to Britain.

Mr. Churchill's outburst jibed ill with a statement by Home Secretary Sir William ("Jix") Joynson-Hicks to the Commons that "the Government does not propose to terminate its official protest by renouncing the Anglo-Russian trade agreement--nor does the Government propose to stop any Russian money sent to aid the coal miners. . . . The total sum so transmitted now amounts to -L-380,000 ($1,900,000)."

Transparently the Baldwin Cabinet is badly strained over its attitude toward Russia. Ministers Churchill, Joynson-Hicks and Lord Birkenhead, ultra -Conservatives, reputedly did all in their power last week to induce Foreign Minister Chamberlain, Premier Baldwin and other cool heads to "stop selling British pots to Bolshevik cannibals."

It was evident that Soviet Russia is unique in the amount of verbal abuse which it will tolerate from a British minister.