"INSIDE SOVIET RUSSIA”

Evening Star, Issue 17706, 6 July 1921, Page 6

"INSIDE SOVIET RUSSIA”

A DANGEROUS PAMPHLET. AUCKLAND PROSECUTION. A charge of having sold a pamphlet entitled ' Inside Soviet Russia,’ which encouraged or incited violence and lawlessness, was brought against John Douglas Robertson before Mr J. W. Poynton, S.M., at Auckland yesterday. 31r 3leredith for tho'prosecution, said the pamphlet was sold to a constable in plain clothes at the defendant’s house. Tho book purported to he an account of what happened in Russia, by a French member of the Allied Military Commission that visited Russia. ’Die author was a frank admirer of Bolshevism, and claimed that what Bolshevism did for Russia, it would do for the rest of the world. Ho bitterly attacked the Allies’ policy towards Bolshevism, and proceeded to general comments which supported an international revolution. Tho book practically supported a violent revolution, or “violent tactics honorably undertaken, as undertaken by the Bolsheviks.” Mr Sullivan, for the defence, submitted that there should have been evidence of persons having been actually incited to violence by the pamphlet—“evidence ot these weak-minded people who are said to be in the community.” Counsel submitted that tho pamphlet came, through tho Customs Department, and, after having been held up for a time, was passed. Defendant gave evidence, and admitted having sold the pamphlet.- He had_ read it in parts, ho said, because of the infor-mn-t-ioi it contained about- tho Soviet Government. He had published the newspaper ‘ Commonwealth.’ Up to March last witness was secretary of the International Socialist Chib, and the newspaper ho bad published was largely extracts on Socialism. Mr Meredith stated that at thd time the Customs had no power to stop such literature. Decision, was reserved.