THE ROSENBERG CASE

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27073, 23 June 1953, Page 12

THE ROSENBERG CASE

Sir,-—Amid the countless pleas for clemency to the Rosenbergs from this and other countries I feel that the following two points should be remembered. First, their sentence is a domestic matter of the United States and therefore of no concern to anyone else. It is unlikely that the decision would have been reached without a great deal of deliberation by the Administration of that country. Second, in a war any citizen of a country who knowingly passes military secrets to an enemy or potential enemy is deemed a traitor and is executed. Is there any reason why in times of peace there should be any difference? These people knowingly are traitors or attempted traitors, and should be dealt with accordingly.— Yours, etc., J. R. M. BARKER. June 19, 1953.

Sir, —In this age of totalitarianism and dictatorships, murder for reasons of state is no unusual occurrence, and the Soviet Union in particular set up a record in this respect. With regard to the Rosenbergs’ claim that they were innocent, and if it was true that the Soviets did not receive atomic secrets from them, the Soviets should havfe said so. But they did not, and therefore have a great share in the responsibilitv for the death of the Rosenbergs.' The Soviet Government has indirectly been on trial in this case and by withholding evidence in favour of the accused it stands condemned before the world as a cold amoral monster. —Yours, etc.. NO MORE INVOLUNTARY DEATH. June 21. 1953.