RUSSIA & RELIGION

Hokitika Guardian, 17 February 1930, Page 3

RUSSIA & RELIGION

(British Official Wjireleas),

RUGBY, February 13

Rt. Hon. A. Henderson, Foreign Secretary, was asked ill tlje House of Commons by Mr Geoffrey Locker Lampson, former- Conservative Undersecretary for Foreign. Affairs, whether he would take immediate steps under Article 11 of the Covenant of the League of Nations, to bring before, the League the question of the conditions, affecting religious liberty in Russia.

Rt. Hon. Mr Henderson, in reply, said:—

“The. reports-, current regarding the religious situation have caused widespread and deep concern in this, and in other countries, and they are receiving the serious consideration of His Majesty’s Government. I have grave doubts whether the course' suggested by Mr Locker Lampson would promote the object which he has in view, hut this House may rest assured that His Majesty’s Government will, pvhen possible, or when it is comparable with the interests of those affected, use all its influence in support of the cause of religious liberty and freedom of religi,bus practice. .//:

Replying to a i the subject,Henderson said tiiat he. was a;.'report -from, the British rtepresentatiye ,in Russia on the religious situation.. - ’

OIfLY PR OR AGAND A

LONDON, Feb. 15,

In political circles it is considered that the Churches, have no justification... for , demanding, political action in what is, essentially, Russia’s domestic and internal concern as affecting religion. It is furthermore pointed out that the recent Anglo-Soviet agreement contains a mutual explicit undertaking that the ‘‘contracting parties solemnly affirm, desire, and intend scrupulously to respect the undoubted right of each state to order its own life in its own wav..” Certain details already known, and likely to, be made available, include toe fact that the reported, recent murder of three hundred naval officers in conneeion wih religious persecution < ecurred in 1918. It is even stated that names have been checked in confirmation of fits truth. . The present position may be sum, med up thus: ‘‘There is strong moral and economic pressure being put on . the people who are professing religious fath, which the; Soviet is, doing every - thing in its power tq suppress. It is primarily a propaganda, rather than a persecution campaign. The Soviet •*. permitting services in Russian churches; for Russian people. No: •ehur.:h-s have been closed''except at - the request of local authorities. There is ntdhing'to prevent adult Russians receiving religious instruction from fchei:’ priests or having their children religiously instructed • There has'been an intensification M the anti-religious campaign, although the legislation in; that connection 'has' not been strengthened.

MR BALDWIN’S VIE 'V

LONDON, Feb. 15

.Mr S. Baldwin, speaking at Bel- 1 fa!st| said: The conscience of the country has been‘ stirred, as it had not been stirred for generations, by the reports of the persecutions of the Christians in Russia. In the past, lie said Britain had never failed to protest against such treatment. The choice at the present moment for Britain to re-enter into relations with the Soviet was an intolerable humiliation to Britain, and : it would give the lie to; all that they stood for in generations past. 4' A CHURCH DEVASTATED. ■ : - ' ' -PERTH,; Feb. 15.

• A minister, entering the Congregational Church at Victoria Park, was shocked to find the hymn books disordered and torn, the Bible ripped, and the Communion clothes thrown away. Detectives are inquiring into the matter. There is an uneasy feeling that it may be an attempt to introduce Soviet anfci-Chrisitafl propaganda.'