SOVIET RUSSIA.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 April 1923, Page 3

SOVIET RUSSIA.

[uv TRf.BOttAFfr —Fill! FltfNS ASSOC [AT lON.] RUSSIAN PERSECUTION. OF CHURCH DLGNATORTKS. (Received this day at 10.10 a.m.) LONDON. April BY The, "Daily Telegraph's” Moscow gori'espc.iideiiß a'-ferring to Tiklion’s trial on a charge of inciting the people against the Soviet, and resisting confiscation of the church treasure, says it is a. foregone conclusion that he will be condemned, either to death or prolonged imprisonment. The wild men of the Bolshevik Party consider the trial the crowning effort of the campaign against tlie Free National Church. They realise the condemnation will serve as a. bond of inicpiitv, which will weld the party together and prevent faint-hearted ones from dropping out of the fight. A message from Helsingfors states when Tikhon was told to prepare for trial he said: “I want no defence hut God." The Soviet promptly denied tlie existence of God. Warsaw reports Hint indignation against the* Soviets persecution ol the Church dignitaries is at fever pitch in Poland, especially as tlie Soviet lias assured the Premier that Budkeviteli would not be executed. I lie withdrawal of the Soviet representative from Warsaw is imminent.