THE ONLY COURSE

Northern Advocate, 20 April 1933, Page 5

THE ONLY COURSE

PETITION TO EXECUTIVE COURT RULING- PINAL, DEPORTATIONS POSTPONED. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.} (Received 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, April 10. Appeal to the court against the sentences passed yesterday on the British engineers accused of sabotage, espionage and bribery, is impossible, ds the president, of the court, M. Ulrich, declared. that thov were final.

The only path open to Mr W. H. MacDonald is to petition the Central Executive Committee, and this they have done. It is thought the sentences may be commuted. The departure from the country of Messrs Monkhonso, Cushuy and Nordwall, ordered to be deported, has been postponed. They cannot leave until their passports have been visaed. The Metropolitan Vickers Company lias telegraphed to the Central Executive of the Soviet urging commutation of the sentences. Mr Thornton’s and Mr MacDonald’s petitions may bo answered tomorrow. A refusal is deemed unlikely. . Counsel for the Russians who were sentenced to long terms of imprisonment, are also lodging a petition.

MAY RECONSIDER.

CONTINGENT ON RELEASE

BRITAIN'S ATTITUDE.

(Received noon.) LONDON, April 19

“The’ Sun" Understands that Mr Thornton and Mr MacDonald’s immediate release will cause Britain to reconsider and probably remove the embargo before it operates. The prohibition of Russian butter imports has not affected, prices as yet, as Continental imports were again

very large.’. The total arrivals from Soviet Russia, Denmark and the Baltic States in the past week were equal to 100,000 '"find 120,000 boxes in excess of the corresponding period of 1932. "The Times" Riga correspondent says that such a mild outcome of a trial .fur espionage and wrecking is almost unprecedented. The Soviet undoubtedly regrets starting finch a mismanaged trial, which has done 'much to wreck the .Government’s prestige at Home and abroad. It is- believed that the Government hopes' to make the release of Mr Thornton and Mr MacDonald a question of bargaining.

TRADE AGREEMENT.

EXPIRY THREE DAYS AGO

NO DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY

(Received LI a.m.) LONDON, April 19

The expiration of the Anglo-Soviet, trade agreement on April 17 ends diplomatic immunity for the Soviet trade delegation. Henceforth the members must obtain a permit to remain iu Britain and report regularly to the police like other aliens.

NEW ZEALAND PLANS. PROMPT CONSIDERATION. . LIKELY TO COPY BRITAIN. SMALL IMPORT VOLUME. (Per Press Association. —CoDyrignt.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Interviewed by telephone at his home at Cheviot today the Rt. Hon: G. W. Forbes, Prime Minister, said the Government would take into immediate consideration the question of prohibitign imports of Russian goods into New 1 Zealand, on the lines of the action taken by the British Government. In the absence from Wellington of the Prime Minister, and the Minister of Customs, the Rt. Hon. .1. G. Coates, nn authoritative information is available on the question of whether New Zealand will follow Britain’s example in prohibiting imports from Russia. For many years Russian imports into I lie Dominion have been so small that the -Customs include them in the general total, but the situation was changed when a new organisation recently imported' 2,500,000 gallons of petrol from Batouiu. Prior to the Prime Minister’s departure for the South, he was questioned regarding Russian Imports, and replied that in the event of the Home Government deciding to take action under the Russian Goods Prohibition Act, New Zealand would no doubt follow suit. . He., did not think legislation necessary to deal with any situation which might arise, as the Government possessed necessary powers for restricting imports. Inquiries in trade circles disclose there are no further Russian petrol .shipments on the way. New Zealand imports from Russia were valued in 1920 at £27,004; 1000, £21,587; 1001, £15,(505; and in 1002, £8808; but in the first three months jf this year they suddenly increased to £02,170. In prior years the only subJ stantial item comprised fur skins, j though a small amount of brush-mak-I ing,material was also bought from the • Soviet.