DRASTIC REJOINDER

Northern Advocate, 20 April 1933, Page 5

DRASTIC REJOINDER

MOSCOW TRIAL SEQUEL BRITAIN ACTS PROMPTLY EMBARGO ON SOVIET GOODS EIGHTY PER CENT. EXCISED PRIVY COUNCIL PROCLAMATION Aii inunediate repercussion of the sentences -passed by the ■Moscow Court upon British employees of the Metropolitan Vickers ' ''firm'is the British decision, embodied in a Privy Council proclamation, to ban Russian imports to the extent of 80 per cent., including such important trading lines as butter, grain, cotton, timber and petroleum. The ukase will take effect on the 26th inst., apparently affording a brief interlude in which the Soviet has the opportunity of recanting or modifying its judgment.

ONE' WEEK’S GRACE EFFECTIVE ON APRIL 26 : SIR J. SIMON EMPOWERED. PRESS COMMENT. INTENSE INDIGNATION. (Received 9 a.m.) LONDON, April 19. The Poreign Office stated this morning that a meeting of the Privy .-Council had been summoned for the purpose of authorising a proclamation under the Russian Goods and Imports .Prohibition Act. . ■Subsequently His Majesty held a Privy Council at Windsor Castle. It was attended by the Foreign Secretary, Sir John Simon, and the Acting- . Prime Minister, Mr Baldwin. . The proclamation was then signed. It becomes effective on April 26.

It prohibits 80 per cent of Soviet imports, including butter, grain, cot- , ton, petroleum and timber. The political writer of the "Daily Telegraph” says that a hurriedly summoned meeting of the Cabinet yesterday. decided that if sentences of im- • '• ■ ■ ■ I . priaonnient were . passed on the Bnt--ish'accused in Moscow, swift action .would be taken in accordance with the Act named. Authority in the matter was delegated to Sir John Simon. Owing to the lateness of the hour when the news of the result of the trial was received last night, few of the morning papers comment on the sentences editorially. As the news spread there was everywhere a general feeling of relief ■ that the sentences were much lighter than had seemed likely from the, bitter spirit manifested at the trial. An Absurd Affront. The “Daily Telegraph" says; i( Though lighter than was feared, the sentences of Thornton and MacDonald constitute an intolerable injustice, for the charges were absurd to the point of imbecility. The so-called trial has been an affront to the universal ’ conscience. “The British Government must make every effort to procure,a commutation of the sentences. The effect of the trial must be far-reaching. It is bound to affect the whole of the Soviet’s relations with civilised mankind.” 1

,■ The “News Chronicle” says: “The British Government cannot be expected; to accept the sentences without protest. . Their relative mildness suggests that if the Soviet is properly approached it may be induced to commute them.

“Everything depends upon the form of approach. Threats are useless, and a trade embargo worse than useless. It should be possible to close the entrance to an Anglo-Russian quarrel from which both parties avouUl have much to lose and nothing to gain.”

APPEAL PENDING HOPES OF COMMUTATION PINAL HOURS IN COURT. DEATHLIKE SILENCE. LONDON HIGHLY EXCITED, (Received 9 a.m.) LONDON, April ID. The President of the Court, M. Ulrich, announced that the three men to be deported would hot be allowed to return to Russia for live years. Monkhouse,. Nordwall and-Cushny, and probably Gregory, will leave Russia to-’ night. It is announced that an appeal is being lodged against the sentences of Thornton and MacDonald. It is believed that these sentences may be commuted. There was remarkable excitement during the hours of waiting for the judge's decision. Outside the court hundreds of spectators paced up and down and ate sandwiches Others played dice or cards. The British accused spent the time with their British solicitor, Air Turner, in. the room behind the court. ■ The staff of the British ' Embassy, with serious faces, paced the corridors. Anxiety was apparent in everyone connected with the case.

■ The “Daily Express” says: “The imprisonment. of Thornton and MacDonald is an outrage to the whole British.nation. The cause of it all was because the Eive Year Plan failed.’ The “Morning Post” says it considers that the solo directing influence of the trial was political. “But. before the trial had gone far, Moscow saw clearly that it stood to lose much more than it could possibly gain, and, by assuming a sudden leniency, which really indicts its sensational procedure, the Soviet now tries to avert the consequences of its blunders, among which is .the censure of the world.” DDES LIQUIDATED. PAYMENT TO VIOKEES. (Deceived 9 a an.) LONDON, April 10. The Soviet has paid the Metropolitan. Vickers Company £30,000 due on April 15, according to a message from Moscow. An official statement issued by the company feaffirms its complete confidence in the victims of this 11 travesty of justice.” The directors say they have no faith in the validity of the alleged confessions. The Vickers Company is still represented in Eussia by nine men, who, pending instructions, will continue to conduct its business there as usual. • %

The crowd included many beautiful women of every class. Russian messengers were continually darting to the telegraph office carrying despatches for every part of the globe, Thornton Chief Sinner. When the judges reassembled, M. Ulrich contended that Thornton was the chief instigator and said Monkhouse was concerned with him. Deathlike silence marked the closing of the President’s speech. The prisoners stood in the dock with bated breath.

Intense excitement prevailed in London last evening. Many clubmen waited until midnight watching the tape machines. Special editions of the evening newspapers containing details of the sentences -were quickly sold in the West End streets. There was a general feeling of relief, coupled with sympathy for Thornton, and MacDonald. The mother of MacDonald, who lives iu Sheffield, refused to be interviewed. His sister stated that her mother had received quietly the news of the sentence on MacDonald.

Monkhousc ’s wife naturally, was ,d<|lighted that her husband was,.-not.,to be imprisoned. “At the same time,” she said, “it is a bitter end to the eight years of the indefatigable work he has done for the Soviet. He has many friends in Russia and has worked ceaselessly for the Union. The idea that he could be guilty of such charges is monstrous.” RAY OF HOPE. PENALTY MAY RE REVOKED.

OVERTURES TO FOREIGNERS. (Received 0 a.in.) MOSCOW, April 10, As similar sentences previously have been occasionally commuted, there is a. ray of hope that the appeal by Thornton and MacDonald will be sue- ] eessful. The deportees consider it inadvisable- at present to comment on the trial, but they are deeply affected by their comrade's’ sentences. Madame Litvinofi’, wife of the Soviet’s Foreign Commissar, is giving a. dance this evening, to which foreign diplomats and press representatives have been invited. This is construed as an indication of the anxiety of the authorities to resume friendly relations with foreigners after the strained situation due to the trial, when many Russians refused to shake hands with foreigners for fear of becoming involved with the “British spies.”