SOVIET PERSEOUTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18176, 23 August 1922, Page 9

SOVIET PERSEOUTION.

TREATMENT OF THE CLERGY. PROTEST' FROM BRITAIN.. PROPOSED INQUIRY REFUSED [most our. own correspondent.] LONDON, July »3.'. I Recently a joint protest from representatives .of the Christian Churches hi Great Bntain inj connection with ,the attack on the authorities of the Russian Church was forwarded to the .Soviet Government. On June 7 a request was made that a small body of representatives of the various Churches responsible, for toe remonstrance might be permitted.bv the Soviet Government to visit Russia to inquire into the subject. The Archbishop of Canterbury has now received a communication from*M. Karakhan, Assistant Commissioner for Foreign Affairs The letter is addressed to the Archbishop's chaplain, and reads: "I beg to inform yo Q that my Government . does not see any grounds for insisting £ «L £ Archbishop of Canterbury in the House of Lords on May 25, since these statements clearly emanate £ sources which in the e/es of the laKworld, do not merit any confidence. Thev merely serve to illustrate the class fwSif Pi P^ 'of various Churches, which solidarity is known to be directed against the labouring masses. The suggestion made by the Archbishop of Canterbury to send to Russia ■a body of 'representatives of various Churches m order to investigate the situation on the spot constitutes a claim' even less justifiable than would be £ suggestion made by the Soviet. Government to send to England a small commission to investigate to what/ extent the labouring masses are exploited materially and spiritually by the hierachy - of the various English Churches, in order to maintain • the domination of the exploiting classes." r ; -V'.';, The following letter has been sent'in reply:—«.< The Archbishop of Canterbury has considered carefully the communication transmitted to him in reply, to-Sis request that a small body of representatives of tha various Chnrches responsible ' for the .remonstrance of May 31 'might be permitted by the Soviet Government to visit Russia, The reply received r refusing this request does not, as the Archbishop notes, challenge the statement made as to the arrest and prosecution of leading clergy of the Russian Church, ■, nor does it elucidate, the obvious contra-.•-' diction between the detailed account:'pf * these arrests and prosecutions "given at first hand to the Archbishop of • Canterbury, and the account given of the Soviet Government. ,^""v ::' "•Tho allegation that the! repcesentatives of the .Church of England;- andt-of the other Christian denominations?'who signed the protest were actuated ib'y. political or claas considerations is foundation. They were actuated 'simplj' by elementary considerations of h'unianicy and of Christian feeling. The Archbishop deplores the refusal of the Soviet Government to allow this information to be obtained. Yery many, people in" Great Britain are anxious to promote the friendliest relation between the Russian people at large and the peoples of the English-speaking countries,, and the letters which the Archbishop receives from America show a similar desire. The present action of the Soviet^Government-is? I calculated to retard or prevent thoireaH-" satiori of such a hope. If the annottbseI ment respecting- the death "Sentence I passed', upon religious leaders I proves to be well founded, the effects-will J be one of indignation and horror among 1 civilised people of aU>- ; classes."'--^',;