BRITONS IN PERIL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21924, 8 April 1933, Page 11

BRITONS IN PERIL

i j THE MOSCOW ENGINEERS \ GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION V SPECIAL POWERS IN BILL : (British Official Wireless.) (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) RUGBY, April 6. The remaining stages of the Bill enabling the Government to prohibit by proclamation the importation of Russian goods to the United Kingdom were considered to-day. The Labour Party had tabled a number of amendments, and interest, was taken in the attitude Sir Herbert Samuel and his Liberal followers would adopt in view of their abstention from voting on the second reading. When an amendment limiting the duration of the measure to one month was proposed Mr Runciman, on behalf of the Government, refused to accept it. He proposed, however, a time limit of three months, with the proviso that the measure could be continued by means of a parliamentary resolution before expiration of that period, or until a further resolution praying for it to be revoked was passed by each House. Sir Herbert Samuel said he was most grateful for Mr Runeiman’s statement, and if it had been made the previous day the Liberals would have voted for the second reading. 1 Replying to Sir Austen Chamberlain, Mr Runciman gave an undertaking on behalf of the Government that it would use the powers contained in the measure for no other purpose than to enable it to intervene effectively on behalf of British subjects now in peril in Russia. THIRD READING OF BILL LONDON, April, 7. (Received April 7, at 9 p.m.) The House of Commons passed the third reading of the Russian Embargo Bill by 291 votes to 41. Sir John Simon, in closing the debate, expressed the hope that the powers conferred would not have to be used. That depended on the Russian authorities. He trusted that this Act, conducted in the light of day before the world, would bring home to the Soviet the gravity with which the British Government regarded the situation. The Government was not pursuing a selfish, vindictive or incorrect course. It was merely trying to help the imperilled Englishmen. LAWYERS FOR THE DEFENCE " i C British Official Wlreleaa.) RUGBY, April 6. Metropolital Vickers have telegraphed to Monkhouse authorising him to use whatever rights there are in Russia in respect to the employment of lawyers for the defence of the engineers. BRITISH LAWYER TO ATTEND LONDON, April 6, Mr Robert Turner, solicitor for Metropolitan Vickers, was granted a visa, and will go to Moscow to-night, accompanied, by an interpreter, to attend the trial as observer. SELECTION OF LOCAL COUNSEL MOSCOW, April 6. Monkhouse conferred with the Collegium of Lawyers, from whom he will select the counsel for the defence. The collegium includes a number of pre-revo-lution eminent lawyers. The newspapers omit all reference to the House of Commons debate. PAYMENTS TO VICKERS COMPANY LONDON, April 6. At a shareholders’ meeting of the Associated Electrical Industries it was asked whether the £1,500,000 Russia owed Metropolitan Vickers had been written off. Sir Felix Pole (chairman) replied that he personally considered that the arrests of the engineers were not connected with the Soviet's financial commitments. All amounts due up to date had been paid, including a sum this week. The balance would become due over the next five years, and he hoped it would be paid. The company’s relations with Moscow for 10 years had been most satisfactory. Their engineers bad been instructed scrupulously to avoid political controversy. He believed that they had faithfully observed their instructions. DOSSIERS OF PROSECUTION MOSCOW, April 6. M. Vishiusky informed Monkhouse that the dossiers of the prosecution would be ready for presentation to the counsel for the defence to-morrow. It is understood that the engineers declined the court’s offer to provide counsel. THREATENED RETALIATION. MOSCOW, April 7. (Received April 7, at 10 p.m.) The British United Press correspondent says that the Soviet is not underestimating the seriousness of Britain’s threatened retaliation for the arrest of the Vickers engineers as Britain is the largest buyer of Soviet products, coj>eauently an embargo would be disastrous. The trial will be a quiet affair in a small courtroom, quite different from the earlier show trials. Apart from a few vitriolic editorials against English “ diehard hysteria”, news of the whole affair is confined to formal communiques, and the Government is obviously holding publicity strictly in check.