THE TREASON TRIALS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22355, 19 March 1938, Page 22

THE TREASON TRIALS

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS. Sir, —My object in opening the discussion on the Soviet trials was to point out the obvious inaccuracies and unreliability of reports appearing in the press concerning the people of Russia, seeing that two of the accused in the latest trial had been reported as dead some months previously. Also, unfortunately, there are people who seize upon every opportunity and pretext for abuse and slander against Communism., when they are totally ignorant of, and therefore ill-equipped to deal with, Marxist-Leninist philosophy. Your correspondent “Jape” I would place under this category, particularly for the way he vilifies Stalin. And why does “Jape” vilify Stalin? Because, on his ("Jape’s”) own admission, Stalin has departed from the Leninist line in the establishment of Socialism in Russia and is ruthlessly exterminating all those who oppose him—the old Bolsheviks, etc. This statement is a gem and will occasion hilarious mirth. Here we have “Jape,” who, to judge by his remarks, hates Communism, vilifying Stalin because he is not pursuing the Leninist line and because he is liquidating all- the “true” Communists. If Stalin is really doing all this, as “Jape” suggests, his attitude to him should be the very opposite. But “Jape” reserves his sympathy for the individuals who poisoned food and stock, for those who sabotaged industry, and for those who plotted against their country with the Fascists.. . “Jape” quotes John D. Littlepage at great length to prove that he is against the Soviet regime. This is entirely beside the point,, because the question' under discussion was whether sabotage and wrecking were being committed, and John D. Littlepage by his remarks confirmed this. But to-day it is a different story; for the Soviet Government has instituted this very vigorous campaign to exterminate sabotage, wrecking, and espionage against the Soviet people. The results are unpalatable to some who would prefer to see the workers’ Slate go under.— Yours, etc., A.B.C. March 17, 1938. tThis correspondence is now closed. — Ed., “The Press.”]