SOVIET RUSSIA.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17728, 3 April 1923, Page 7

SOVIET RUSSIA.

PERSECUTION OF THE CHURCHES. ATTEMPTED JUSTIFICATION. (BT CMH.E-PRESS ASSOCIA.TIOS—CCTITP.rOIIT.) (AUSTRALIAN ASD K.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) LONDON. April 1. The Moscow corre-po;.tlent of the "Daily Telegraph" st .tcs that commutation" of the death sentence was granted to 'Archbishop Zepiiak, lest Catholics should regard the penalties as dire t:d again-t priests and reli.ion generally, but Father Iludkevitch. whose de tii sentence was confirmed, used his status as a priest to participate in counter-revolutionary plots.

A Soviet newspaper, justifying the sentences, resents foreign interference, and declares that the Aiulican Church, which formerly executed Roman Catholics, has no right to protest, while British Labour leaders who dine with the King cannot be .seriously regarded.

CARDINAL BOURNE'S PROTEST.

(Received April Ist, 7.45 p.m.)

LONDON, April 2.

Cardinal Bourne, preaching in Westminster Cathedral, protested against the sentence on the Russian Archbishop, saying: "The whole world has shuddered at the news that he has been sentenced solely because he did his duty as a Christian. Ten years of solitary confinement is more awful than death itself." LENIN'S LAST DAYS. "ALREADY MENTALLY DEAD." (united seryice.) LONDON, March 31. The Moscow correspondent of the "Daily Mail" say s that Lenin is already mentally dead. His right side, arm and leg are completely paralysed, and his tongue partially paralysed. A German specialist believes that the severing of a small artery in his neck at the time 0 f the attempted assassination of Lenin deprived the brain of its due flow of blood and fatal results are now accruing. All agree'that Lenin will not participate in public life

again. The Soviet authorities, keep secret the place where the leader is dying, and his sister acts a s nurse.

Lenin's wife, an ex-Siberian convict, is a fanatical Communist. She served a five years' sentence on a charge of attempting to establish a system, under which Russian youths would abandon Christianity and he trained as militant atheists. On the other hand, Lenin's sister is a Christian, and ha s arranged masses for the repose of his soul after his death.