TRUMPED UP?

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 70, 24 March 1933, Page 7

TRUMPED UP?

SOVIET ARRESTS. Embargo on Russian Imports Discussed. BAIL TERMS ANNOUNCED: United P.A.-Electric Telegraph-Copyright) (Received 1 p.m.) LONDON, March 23. Well-informed circles say that Cabinet yesterday discussed an embargo on all Russian imports after April 17, after which a severance of diplomatic relations will naturally follow. The view predominates officially that the arrest of the British engineers was a trumped-up affair and their unconditional release is the only solution. It is reported that the Soviet has asked Metropolitan Vickers to deposit 25,000 roubles on Lehalf of Mr. Thornton, and 15,000 each on behalf of Messrs. Gregory and Cushny. .Britain has reiterated to M. Litvinoff, Foreign, Commissar, that only unconditional release without a trial will be regarded as satisfactory. A Moscow dispatch states that three Britons have been released on bail. AMAZING NEGLIGENCE. New Machinery Left to Rust In Russia. TANTAMOUNT TO WRECKING. ("Times" Cables-* LONDON, March 23. The Riga correspondent of "The Times" says the Commissariat of Heavy Industry continues to record negligence tantamount to wrecking in connection with the transport of valuable imported machinery. For example, 140 tons of machinery found at Odessa had been left for more than two months in the open air and was rusting. Under the weight of one machine a quay collapsed after a few weeks and the machine disappeared in the Black Sea. The newspaper "Pravda" records tho discovery of a consignment of machinery which was lost in Georgia for two years though, it is still clearly addressed to Perm, How it arrived in Georgia nobody knows. Tho paper says it wonders whether anybody cares. A firm engaged in the Ural copper industry has just discovered some imported machinery, valued origin? Ily at between 2,000,000 and 3,000 ; 000 gold roubles, some of Vilncli has lain in the open since 1027. It has been serving as a convenient source for anybody requiring spare nuts, bolts or other parts. The remnants are now a heap of rusty metal, partly buried in send. The Commissariat suys the estimated value is a more conjecture because, it is impossible to recognise some ot the machines.