SOVIET ARRESTS

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 149, 20 March 1933, Page 9

SOVIET ARRESTS

Vickers Employees LITVINOFF’S REPLY Grave Impression Created OGPU’S INVESTIGATIONS Charges Against Prisoners By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright. (Received March 19, 6.30 p.m.) Rondon, March 18. Litinoft’s reply that the Soviets actions in connection with the ar--1 rests of Vickers employees were based on tjie ground that each Government had the sovereign right to deal with people living in its territory, has caused the gravest possible impression in official circles, sajs the political correspondent of the “News-Chronicle.” ‘‘The matter is now one of extreme urgency.’ “The Times” correspondent at Riga describing M. Litvinoff’s reply as over-impudent, says M. Litvinoff na» declared that the Ogpu has .nearly completed its investigations and had proofs suggesting that the accused were guilty of the gravest crimes. He also suggested that the authorities possessed the prisoners’ own confessions. , ..■ M. Litvinoff’s reply contains the following sentence: “People aren’t arrested in Russia without good reaS ° n 'A Moscow message states that no pressure or threats can cause the Soviet to relax the Jaw irt favour of Britons, according to a statement oy M. Litvinoff, published by the Tass agency.

The statement adds, that M. Litvinoff told Sir Esmond Ovey, the Britisn Ambassador in Moscow, that the British claims were tantamount to a proposal to grant Britons immunity from any crime or delinquency, and the stopping of proceedings against them, despite available data and proofs, immediately the British Government expressed the conviction that they were innocent, which was obviously unacceptable to the Government of, an independent country, and undiscussable. Arrests of foreigners occurred in .other countries besides Russia. Moreover, hundreds of thousands of Germans, Americans and other foreigners living in Russia were not persecuted, z and hundreds of Englishmen had lived in Russia without being arrested. Finally,’ the Metropolitan Vickers representatives themselves had lived in Russia for ten years and 'hitherto nothing had happened to them. - Tiip present measures had been adopted only in face of serious causes, and in the interests of the safety of the property of the State. Charges Against Accused. The Soviet accuses Vickers employees of sabotage on. behalf. of a counter-revolutionary organisation in connection with the £20,000,000 Knieprostroi dam, the generators of which are among the world’s largest, and were supplied by Vickers, to enable electricity to be distributed throughout Russia. The Soviet alleges that the turbjne blades bad been maliciously corroded. It is emphasised that the blades, of the finest rustless steel, could not have been corroded unless sand or acid was poured into the turbines. The cost of repairs would almost equal the cost of assembling new turbines. Thirty thousand workmen are employed on the construction of the dam. which has already exceeded the scheduled four years. The work was supervised by Americans until September, when the Soviet assumed control. symbolising Russia’s rejuvenation. The Soviet claims, it is the world’s largest dam, but it does not equal the Lloyd barrage in India. The “Sunday Times” learns that owing to the Soviet’s attitude the Government has suspended negotiations for a new trade treaty. The “Sunday Express’ says Cabinet may send an ultimatum this week demanding the release of the arrested men; otherwise both trade and diplomatic realtions will be broken off. _ The "Evening Standard” states that Britain has informed the Soviet that trade relations will be severed if the Soviet persists in the charges against the Vickers employees. The Soviet- informed Sir Esmond Ovey. British Ambassador, that the Britons would be charged under Article 58 of the criminal code dealing with sabotage. Sir Esmond Ovey is still without definite information regarding the charges, and it is unlikely that further visits to the prisoners will be allowed. M. Maisky, Soviet Minister in London, yesterday received Sir Robert Vansittart's strong representations without a positive reply. British Public Stirred. Speaking at Swansea. Mr. J. 11. Thomas, referring to “the difficulties and dangers ahead,” said that many foolish and dangerous actions were occurring, among which none had stirred the British public more than the Russian arrests of respectable and harmless fellow-subjects engaged in normal commercial avocations. It was absurd, he continued, to suggest that, they would lend themselves to measures calculated to destroy their- livelihood. The motive behind the arbitrary, procedure was not understood, but the British people would agree that the arrested persons must not be made the subject of shortcomings in official projects. The Russians •had been known before to take arbitrary action in order to divert attention from home affairs and had got embroiled in foreign difficulties.

A high official of Metro-Vickers-fold a reporter that,the company was in noway connected with the construction of the Knieprostroi dam nor concerned with the construction of the machinery.