APPEAL BY U.S. ATOM SPIES

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 26944, 21 January 1953, Page 8

APPEAL BY U.S. ATOM SPIES

CONSIDERATION BY NEW PRESIDENT (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) WASHINGTON, January IS. A decision on the appeal for clemency by Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, the’ United States atom spies, will probably be left to the Eisenhower Administration, the retiring AttorneyGeneral (Mr James McGranery) said The which the Rosenbergs made to President Truman, was still in the hands of the Justice Department today, and a recommendation is unlikely until Mr Eisenhower takes office as President. The Rosenbergs, husband and wife, who were convicted of atomic espionage for a Soviet spy ring, were originally sentenced to die in the electric chair at Sing Sing prison, New York, last Thursday, but they are living under a stay of execution pending a decision on their appeal for Presidential clemency. Their appeal was lodged with the Justice Department on January 11, the Rosenbergs protesting their innocence. Should Presidential clemency be denied by either Mr Truman or the incoming President, Mr Eisenhower, they will be granted a further stay of execution for five days after the decision is announced. It is possible that thev will have further recourse to the Courts.