MOSCOW ECHOES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 88, 15 April 1933, Page 7

MOSCOW ECHOES.

Accused Cross-Examine Each

Other.

BITTER NEWSPAPER JIBE,

(Received 1 p.m.) LONDON, April 14. The "Daily Telegraph's" Moscow correspondent recalls that M. Ulrich, President of the Court which is trying the British engineers, was sentenced in 1928 to 10 years for espionage in connection with State secrets. A British United Press message states that the proceedings are unorthodox, the accused cross-examining each other simultaneously. A London broadcast to-day included prayers for the suffering of those passing into the valley of the shadow of death. There was no direct reference to the Moscow trial. The Russian newspaper "Izvestia" says: "The Good Friday broadcast prayers will not help the accused. The only phase of the Easter story applicable to the case is that of Judas and his 30 pieces of silver." A London dispatch says that Metropolitan Vickers board of directors unanimously passed a resolution of sympathy with the accused, emphasising its complete confidence in their integrity and loyalty. The board also elected Mr. C. T. Richards, who was in charge of the firm's interests in Russia, to the post of director as an indication of its confidence in his conduct of their Russian business. The Foreign Secretary, Sir John Simon, made a specific statement in the House of Commons. "None of these men," he said, "has ever been employed directly or indirectly in connection with any branch of our Intelligence Service."