NATURE OF CHARGES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21467, 15 April 1933, Page 9

NATURE OF CHARGES

3 RUSSIAN'S STATEMENTS ALLEGED WRECKING ACTS NEW ZEALANDER'S CASE By telegraph—Press Association—Copyright MOSCOW. April 12 I An example of the charges against 1 tho Vickers engineers is that Gusev, head of the electricity station at Zla- ! toust, alleges that Mac Donald gave him money to use in collecting inform- - at ion dealing with military production " at Zlatoust. The indictment quotes Mac Donald's 1 deposition as admitting that he did so 5 under instructions from Thornton, 1 which included, more vaguely, an order - to " organise breakdowns." Mac Donald s said ho was under the impression that Thornton was acting iu tho interests ■ of Britain. * ' Gusev gives details of wrecking acts i alleged to havo been performed by Mac Donald, who, he alleged, had int structions for the purpose of lowering the production of shells of high quality ) steel. The indictment credits Thornton ■ with admitting that ho instructed Mact Donald, but denying that he received military or secret information. Tho charge against the New Zea- . lander, Monkhouse, is to the effect that ) between 1D27 and 1932, when working - in Russia as chief representative of the • Metropolitan Vickers Company, he belonged to a counter-revolutionary group and collected, through subordinate British and Russian engineers and technicians, secret information of the military ' state which was of importance. Also it is alleged that Monkhouse took part in tho counter-revolutionary group's wrecking and diversional activities, systematically paid money for 1 espionage, and systematically bribed and abetted a Russian engineer to con- ! ceal the defects of equipment erected by the Vickers Company. Tho charges against tho other accused vary in detail, but are similar in principle. An expert commission appointed to study the documents reported that the breakdowns of plans were due to criminal neglect or deliberate wrecking. SCENE IN COURT PROSECUTION'S CASE OUTLINE OF THE EVIDENCE British Wireless RUGBY. April 12 j About 400 people were present at tho Moscow trial. It was noticeable that the slogans emblazoned on cotton streamers which usually adorn the Soviet Courts were absent. Tho Britons and tho 12 Russians accused with them, all sat together. The two Britons on which the prosecution sets the greatest store, MacDonald and Thornton, wero marshalled as far as possible from their four companions, Messrs. Monkhouse, Cushny, Gregory and Nordwall, who occupied tho back row. The evidence which the prosecution has advanced in the indictment consists almost exclusively of depositions of the Russian accused, and the deposition of Mac Donald, who had not been allowed out on bail, and during tho last four weeks had been in prison without being allowed to receive advice or discuss his case with anyone except the prosecutor, or his own State-paid Soviet counsel. The testimony, containing direct insinuations of tho guilt of tho accused, apart from that which was secured from the accused themselves, consists of some extracts from findings of the Soviet State Commission and the evidence of two Russians. One of the latter gave part of his evidence in prison, while J the evidence of the other consists of a | statement to the effect that he immediately handed to the Ogpu tho money he received from Ihornton. BRITISH CABINET URGENCY OF SITUATION READINESS FOR MEETING (Received April 14, 11.15 p.m.) LONDON. April, 14 All the newspapers feature the Moscow trial and publish every word available. Owing to the urgency of the situation tho Cabinet has arranged to meet during the Easter recess if tho result of tho trial is found to require immediate action on the part of tho Government. The members of tho last Labour Cabinet have asked the Prime Minister, Mr. Mac Donald, to extend the Russian trade agreement for three months, in order to create a better atmosphere for tho renewal of friendship with Russia, which, they contend, may possibly serve tho Vickers employees better than threats.