BETRAYED CAUSE OF PEACE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 124, 10 March 1950, Page 3

BETRAYED CAUSE OF PEACE

RUSSIAN OFFICIAL SENTENCED AMERICAN WOMAN SENT TO PRISON (N.Z.P. A.—Copyright) (Rec. 110.40) NEW YORK, Mar. S. Valentin Gubitchev, former Russian United Nations official, to-day received a suspended sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment, and Avas ordered to be deported to Russia within a fortnight. Gubitchev was found guilty of espionage la-st Tuesday. Judith Coplon, former Federal Justice Department employee, was sentenced to five years on a charge of espionage, plus 15 years for attempted espionage, the sentences to run concurrently. Judge Sylvester Ryan said lie had suspended GubitcheA r> s sentence at. the request of the Attorney-General and the Secretary of State. Stating that he would deny bail for Coplon pending her appeal, Judge Ryan said: “It is about time she paid some of the penalty.” He remarked that Coplon had now been tAvice convicted of betraying the United States Government.

Judge Ryan declared that Gubitchev had violated his United Nations oath by his actions, and added that Gubitcliev did these things “with an arrogant smile.” Judge Ryan said to Gubitchev: “You betrayed the cause of peace. You stand convicted before the world as a betrayer of all human mankind. . By your acts you attempted to destroy the hope of all mankind to avoid war and establish peace.” t •

Judge Ryan said to Coplon: “You brought disgrace on your name and on your family. The country looks upon, you with sorroAv. It does not seek vengeance,’but punishment must be substantial as a Avarning to others.” Before he Avas sentenced Gubitchev read a prepared statement in which he reiterated his claim to diplomatic status. He charged that he was arrested illegally and tried on an “artificially manufactured case,” and that the Federal Bureau of. 'lnvestigation subjected him to “many hours of examination in order to get from me information about Soviet industrial and military affairs.” * Federal Attorney Irving Saypol, in announcing the Government’s request that Gubitchev be given a suspended sentence and deported, emphasised that the State Department did not recognise Gubitchev’s claim of diplomatic immunity.