THE MOSCOW ARRESTS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 150, 6 April 1933, Page 5

THE MOSCOW ARRESTS

AMBASSADOR'S REPORT. NO CREDIBLE EVIDENCE. THE PRISONERS TERRIFIED. (United Press Association—Copyright). LONDON, April 4. The correspondence that passed between the British Ambassador in Russia (Sir Esmond Ovey) and Sir John Simon (Secretary of State for Eoreign Affairs) or Sir Robert Vansittaiit (Permanent Under-Secretary to the Foreign Office) between March 12 and.l7, relative to the Moscow arrests, has been published in a White. Paper. . The White .Paper begins by'giving details, of the' arrest of Mr Alan Monkhouse, who was called upon to make a complete confession. He was told that he would be treated as a criminal if he refused. Mr Mpiikhouse explained that he visited England regularly to inform his company of the state of their business. The Russian accusers retorted that that amounted to espionage. The accusers also produced a list of 25 Vickers turbines which had given trouble. Mr Monkhouse pointed out that mistakes had been made and that the fault partly lay with the Russians. It was natural that there should be occasional mishaps. In any case, the company had done its best to effect repairs rapidly. The Ambassador added that it was inconceivable that the Soviet Government could produce credible evidence of criminal malpractice on the part of Metropolitan Vickers-. The secret police on March 12 issued a communique stating that 35 officials accused of agricultural sabotage the day before and condemned to death had been shot. Sir Robert Vansittart, on March 14, telegraphed to Sir Esmond Ovey sayin: "You have doubtless emphasised to M. Litvinoff the impossible position of Anglo-Soviet relations if British subjects are used for spectacular treason trials staged for reasons of internal politics." Sir Edmond Ovey,- on March 14, telegraphed: "1 have seen the prisoners. All are obviously terrified. They are confined by themselves and gave minimum replies. Their obsequiousness created an uncanny impression upon me, the interviews being in the presence of four officials." The next day the Ambassador telegraphed to Sir John Simon: "The principal danger in the situation is that these people are completely unable to see themselves in any other light than an aggrieved Power struggling for noble ideals against a world of political, financial and commercial conspirators. I understand that Russia owes Metropolitan Vickers £1,500,000 in, addition to five technical aid contracts each of £30,000. I strongly deprecate any panicky flight by Vickers from Russia, which would enable Russia to contend that Vickers had failed to carry out the contracts and withhold the moneys indefinitely." Sir Edmond Ovey, before leaving Moscow, expressed his personal bitter disappointment at the deliberate sabotage of Anglo-Russian relations. M. Litvinoff (Commissar for Foreign Affairs) accused Sir ; Edmond of exaggeration, saying that the secret polnot fools and knew what they were doing. Tho Ambassador replied that if M. Litvinoff thought he was speaking with greater frankness than would be used in London he was entirely mistaken. The message added: "The situation is fraught witli the utmost danger." Sir Robert Vanstittart, on March 17 telegraphed to Sir Edmond Ovey entirely approving of his action, and stating that Cabinet would consider its further action.

PROPOSED AUTHORITY FOR BAN. DEBATE TN THE COMMONS. (Received This Day, 11.15 a.m.) LONDON, April 5. Extra time was allotted to the debate in the House of Commons on the Bill giving the Government power to prohibit the importation of Soviet goods, but the Bill will be disposed of to-morrow night. The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Sir Jdhn Simon), moving the second reading,. said that the Government desired to negotiate a new trading .agreement, and negotiations were proceeding when a very disturbing event occurred. Russia had bought power plants from Metropolitan Vickers extensively in the last ten years. Under arrangements for technical assistance, of which the current one bad live years to run, the company .supplied some, of their, best, and most ' skilful men for the purpose of installing, starting and running the plant. Sir Simon then referred to the arrest of the British engineers, adding that at the risk of incurring the accusation of pre-judging the issue, on which the legal remedy had hot been exhausted, the Ambassador told the' Soviet .'Minister that if his Government wished to continue friendly-relations it must refrain from being drawn, by the police into a trumped-up and fantastic accusation against a friendly, reputable British company. The Soviet's answer stated that investigations made by the internal, authorities regarding a. series of unexpected breakdowns in the electrical station at Moscow had established that the breakdowns were the result of the wrecking activities of criminal elements, whose object was to destroy the electrical stations and put out of operation the factories dependent upon them. It added that investigations showed active participation by certain employees of Metropolitan Vickers. Mr Monkhouse, with no nhargs against him, was submitted to a first examination of 19 hours by three tennuj of examiners. After referring to a second examination that lasted 17 hours, Sir John Simon said he had studied many systems of law. No one could dispute that any testimony obtained by these means

was rubbish. Tho British Government had not the slightest desire to sever frigndly relations with Russia, but there was no proper basis for really friendly relations if the story presented in the White Paper represented the way in which men who went to that country were treated. He knew no way by which he could secure for these men a fair trial, but one thing they could do was to convince tho authorities of the anxiety felt here. At any moment tho Soviet had the power to stop goods coming from this country to them without a breach of the most-favoured-nation clause. In the interests of these men and in order to bring home to tho. Soviet State the real gravity of the situation, the Government asked in the Bill for power which the Soviet Government already had. The Government had not tho slightest intention of making any statement as to the use of that power, which could not possibly be used before April 18. If there were nothing else tho House could do to help British subjects in peril, it at least could give the Government of the country to which these men belonged the authority sought for in the Bill. Bir Stafford Cripps (Labour), following Sir John Simon, moved the rejection of the Bill on the ground that the White Paper disclosed no adequate grounds to demand the liberation of the British subjects who had been arrested, without trial, or to grant the Government exceptional powers for the purpose of reprisals against the Soviet Government. He said that before such extraordinary powers were . given citizens should exercise all available means of legal redress. Denials of the justice of the tribunal .should be clearly established. The Foreign Office, on March 16, really demanded liberation of the Britishers without trial, while Sir. Robert Vansittart informed the Russian Ambassador that the allegations against the arrested men wore regarded in London as "grotesque and hysterical, staged as part of a hunt for scapegoats owing to tho ill-success of certain industrial undertakings in Russia." This was about as offensive a statement as could bo made to any foreign Ambassador. It would bo in the interest of the arrested men themselves to treat the matter on a friendly basis instead of working both nations up to a state of excitement and hysteria. Sir Herbert Samuel said that the Liberals approved of energetic representations being made to the Soviet concerning the arrested engineers, but hoped that the extraordinary powers now being sought would be used solely to ensure for thorn a full measure of justice. Though there was room for negotiations to secure a better balance of trade with Russia there was no need to denounce the existing trade agreement. ' Commander O. Loeker-Lampson (Conservative) asked why did not Labour protest against the execution of 35 Russians without trial. He had always protested against lending money to Russia. It would have been far bettor to lend it to- the Dominions,' who stood by us in tho war, •tba'n''to Russians, who stabbed us in the-back. Apart from public funds BritisTf citizens sent £250,000,000 'to Russia:.: ■. NOT RETURNING TO MOSCOW. SIR ESMOND OVEY'S POSITION. (Received Thise Day, 10.40 a.m.) LONDON, April 5. The Central News Agency says that Sir Esmond Ovey will not return, to Moscow. This does not necessarily imply severance of diplomatic relations, but publication of tho White Paper makes his position there extremely difficult. THE RELEASED MEN. PLEDGED TO REMAIN IN MOSCOW MOSCOW, April 4'. '* Beforo their reelase on bail Messrs Cushny, Thornton, and Gregory had the indictments read to them and entered a "general denial. .It is understood that each was unaware of the presence of the others in the gaol. They were met at the gates by Mr Monkhouse (also on bail). After telephoning and telegraphing their families in England they went to the Embassy, where they dined with Mr W. Strang (Charge d'Affairs) and wore seen there by press representatives. Questions were not permitted. All looked tired but cheerful. The engineers will live in their homes under a pledge to remain in Moscow until their trial. Mr Robert Turner, a member of the Metropolitan Vickers firm of solicitors will attend the trial of tho Company's engineers. He does not speak Russian but will get in touch with members of the Russian Bar.