General Relief at Light Sentences

Manawatu Times, Volume LVI, Issue 7136, 20 April 1933, Page 7

General Relief at Light Sentences

“OUTRAGE TO WHOLE BRITISH NATION”

VARIED PRESS COMMENT Received Wednesday, Midnight. LONDON, April 19. Owing to the lateness of the news few of the morning papers comment on the Moscow sentences editorially. As the news spread thero was everywhere a general feeling of relief that the sentences wero much lighter than seemed likely from the bitter spirit manifested at the trial. The Daily Telegraph says: “Though lighter than feared tho sentences on Thornton and MacDonald are an intolerable injustice for the charges are absurd to tho point of imbecility. Iho so-called trial has been an affront to the universal conscience. Tho British Government must make every effort to procure a commutation. The effect of the trial must be far-reaching and is bound to affect tho whole of the Soviet’s relations with civilised mankind.”

Tho News-Chronicle says: “The British Government cannot be expected to accept the sentences without protest. Their relativo mildness suggests that if the Soviet is properly approached it may bo induced to commute them. Everything dopends on the form of the approach. Threats are useless and an embargo would be w'orse than useless. It should be possible to close this entrance to an Anglo-Russian quarrel from which both parties have much to lose and nothing to gain.” The Express says: “Thornton’s and MacDonald’s imprisonment is an outrage to the wholo British nation. The cause of it all,” says the paper, “was because the Five-Year Plan failed. The Morning Post considers the sole directing inliuence of the trial had been political, but before the trial had gone far Moscow saw clearly that it stood to lose much moro than it could possibly gain. By assuming sudden lenity, which really indicts its sensational procedure, tho Soviet now trios to avert the consequences of its blunders among which is the censure of the world.”

Intense Excitement in London

MONKHOUSE MAKES FINAL APPEAL

Received Wednesday, 10.30 p.m. LONDON, April 19

Intense excitement prevailed in London last night. Many clubmen waited till midnight watching tho tape machines. Special editions of the evening papers with the sentences wore sold in West End streets.

There was a general feeling of relief coupled with sympathy for Thornton and MacDonald, whose mother is in Sheffield. Sho refused to be interviewed. His sister stated that his mother received the news of tho sentence quietly. Monkhouse was the only English defendant to make full use of his rignt to the last word. He said: “The only serious evidence that I was engaged in espionage is the document Thornton signed. I have known Thornton for 22 years and I am certain he did not sign voluntarily.” Referring to the charges of sabotage Monkhouso said: “The .Soviet owes Vickers one and a half million sterling. The firm hoped to get moro orders, so that tho destruction of the machinery would be cutting tneir own throat.”

Monkhouse’s wife is naturally delighted that her husband was not imprisoned. “At the same time it is a bitter end to eight years of indefatigable work he has dono for the Soviet. He had many friends in Russia and worked ceaselessly for tho Union. Tho idea that ho could be guilty of such charges is monstrous.

Little Kutusova’s Pluck

not afraid to speak out

Received Wednesday, 9.50 p.m. LONDON, April 39.

Mr Cholerton, the Daily Telegraph’s correspondent, says: “The Russian women are better in a crisis than the men. Little Kutusova was splendid. She 'spoke longer than any of the others. In a ringing voice full of challenging anger she scornfully rejected tho suggestion against her moral character. She declared she had worked twenty years for the State and had done more for tho Five-Year Plan than citizens who wore continually boasting what they had done.

Gusev an Ogpu Spy

Received Wednesday, 10.30 p.m. LONDON, April 19.

The Daily Mail’s Paris correspondent says that tho Russians there declare that Gusev is a polico informer. Ho figured previously as tho recipient of sentences, but simply played the role fully assured that the Ogpu chiefs would arrange for his safety end subsequent reward.

Soviet Pays Dp

VICKERS’ FAITH IN THEIR

EMPLOYEES

Received Wednesday, 9.5 p.m. LONDON, April 19.

The Soviet paid Vickers £20,000 due on April 15, according to a mossage from Moscow.

An official statement by the Vickers Company reaffirms "complete confidence in the victims of this travesty of justice. The directors have no faith in the validity of the alleged confessions.’’