THE MOSCOW TRIALS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21198, 2 December 1930, Page 9

THE MOSCOW TRIALS

A SIGNIFICANT FEATURE. CONFESSIONS OF ACCUSED. GLORY IN THEIR GUILT. (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, November 30. Since the Moscow trials began everybody is speculating as to why the accused have so fulsomely confessed, and seem almost to glory in their guilt. Why are the. 'proceedings so prolonged since the plea of - guilty leaves only formalities? The first correspondent to touch on this aspect is the Observer’s Moscow representative, who, commenting on the conspicuous lack by any of the defendants of attempts to prove their innocence, says: “ One is sometimes amazed at the composure with which they incriminate themselves for capital offences for which the whole nation is clamouring for their execution.” The correspondent proceeds; “It is a matter of conjecture whether this attitude originates from fatalism or from relief after strain. There is no hope that repentance after guilt ami a full confession will bring reprieve. Despite the confession, Krilenko relentlessly proceeds with his cross-examination.” M. Marcel Cachin (a French Communist deputy), who is present at the trial, in as message to Humanite (Paris), of which he is editor, says the whole story seems to resolve itself into little more than saying that Russians and other refugees jt Paris were occasionally received by certain French officers and Minand they flattered themselves into believing that they had secured French promises of support for armed intervention against the Soviet.