MORE ARRESTS IN RUSSIA

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21355, 24 December 1934, Page 13

MORE ARRESTS IN RUSSIA

EVIDENCE LACKING OFFICIAL STATEMENT ITHrITBD PHESS ASSOCIATION—BT EIECTEIO TELXGSAPH —COPTBIGHT.) (Received December 24, 12.4 D a.m.) MOSCOW, December 23. It is officially stated that Zinoviev, Kamenev, Sharov, Kuklin, and 11 others have been arrested for being connected with the murder of Kirov. There is insufficient evidence to justify the trial of Zinoviev, Kamenev, and five others, but they will be handed over to a special tribunal, which will consider "administrative exile." The cases of the remainder, including Charov and Kuklin, are being investigated. An earlier message said: Although it is not admitted officially, Zinoviev has been arrested, together with 13 of his former opposition party, and handed over to the Supreme Court. This action follows the trial of Nicolaev for the murder of Kirov. It is expected that all will be sentenced to death within 24 hours. A prominent member of the Soviet, Syrokov, is reported to have been arrested with Zinoviev and Kamenev. An official statement declares that it is established that Nicolaev received his commission to murder Kirov from a terrorist underground group called the Leningrad, Centre Group. The Government declares that letters from Zinoviev were found in the pocket of Medvediev, the head of the Leningrad Ogpu, when the latter was shot. These implicate Zinoviev. The Warsaw correspondent of the "Sunday Express" says the idea behind the Leningrad plot was to overthrow the Stalin Administration and return Trotsky to power.

PUBLIC TRIALS URGED BRITISH LABOUR SHOCKED AT EXECUTIONS LONDON, December 21. The Trades Union Congress and the National x. ecutive of the Labour party have issued jointly a statement that while appreciating the natural outraged feelings of the Soviet because of the assassination of M. Kirov, they are profoundly shocked and alarmed by the subsequent reprisals in the form of widespread summary executions. They express the opinion that all those arrested should have public trials and opportunities for legal defence. They have asked the Soviet Ambassador to receive a deputation on the subject.