Soviet Arrests

Manawatu Times, Volume LVI, Issue 7108, 17 March 1933, Page 7

Soviet Arrests

O.G.P.U. Activities Continue A CLEAN SWEEP INTENDED United Press Association—By Eloetric Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, March 18. Tha Times’ Riga correspondent reports that arrests of engineers continue, the Ogpu intending to make a clean sweep as a part of their now policy of political economy. Strong Protest to Soviet (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Mar. 15. The British Government’s grave view of the Moscow arrests was expressed by the Leader of the House, Mr. Stanley Baldwin, who, in the absence of the Foreign Secretary, replied to a question in tho House of Commons. He said: “Tho information from the British Ambassador at Moscow confirms the Press reports that tho following British subjects: Messrs Monirhouse, Thornton, Cushy, MacDonald, Gregory and Nordwall, employed by the Metropolitan-Vickers Company, together with more than twenty Soviet citizens employed by the same firm, have been arrosted by tho Soviet political police on a charge of sabotage of electrical machinery. “Messrs Monkhouso and Nordwall have since been provisionally released on tho undertaking not to leave Moscow. The other persons arrested are still in custody, and tho Ambassador had visited them in prison. Their health appears generally satisfactory, and permission to exorcise has been promised. “Immediately on receipt of the news of the arrests tho Ambassador made urgent representations to the Commissariat for Foreign Affairs, requiring to know', among othor points, exactly on what chargo the arrests had boon made, and what facilities for their defence would bo granted them. As he has received no categorical or satisfactory answer on these matters, ho has been instructed to press for tho fullest possible information from tho Commissar for Foreign Affairs, M. Litvinoff.

“Moreover, as his Majesty’s Government is convinced that there can be no justification for tho charge on which arrests wero made the Ambassador, Sir Esmond Ovcy, has been instructed to represent in strong terms tho grave view which, tho British Government takes of these proceedings against British subjects of high standing, engaged in normal commercial pursuits to the benefit of both countries, and the unfortunate consequences to Anglo-Soviet relations which may follow unless they are rectified. Similar language will be hold Sfi tho Soviet Ambassador in London to-morrow as his Excellency has been unable to come to tho Foreign Office to-day.’’

Position of Engineers UNCERTAINTY OF TRIAL MOSCOW, Mar. 15. The Soviet Foreign Office informed the British Embassy that it was impossible to say whether the six members of the Vickers firm will be tried until the investigation of the sabotage charges is concluded. The trial, if any, will be in public. It is not stated whether counsel will be allowed.

Nine More Arrests

BRITAIN’S PROTEST MUST BE STRONG

Received Thursday, 10.30 p.m. LONDON, Mar. 16,

Moscow Gxas officially announced that nine more employees of Metropolitan Vickers have boon arrested and charged with sabotage. All are Russians, of whom six arc women. The arrested now total 40. The News-Chronicle is informed that the defence of those arrested is being entrusted to a Russian advocate officially appointed, English counsel not being allowed to appear. Tho Times says the Government’s representations to tho Soviet cannot bo too strong. It is intolerable that British subjects working in Russia executing contracts with tho Soviet Government should bo included among the victims of the O.G.P.U.’s hunt for scapegoats for miscalculations and mismanagement by tho Soviet authorities. “No Mercy for Our Enemies ! ” SUITS SIAN JU STICE Received Thursday, 9.r>o p.m. LONDON, Mar. 16. The Guardian’s Moscow correspondent says an editorial in the Pravda headed “No mercy for our enemies’’ assumes before the trial that the charges against tho Englishmen are well-founded though foreign correspondents are forbidden to comment on the case as sub judice.