NO PERSECUTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24721, 25 September 1941, Page 7

NO PERSECUTION

RELIGION IN RUSSIA FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE OFFICIAL STATEMENT RUGBY, Sept, 23. The Russian Ambassador, M. Maisky, in a speech to an American Chamber of Commerce gathering in London, disposed of misconceptions with regard to freedom of worship in Russia. “ In spite of what is thought by so many, religion in the country is not persecuted,” he said, “ and every citizen has the right to believe or not believe, according to his conscience. Article 124 of the Stalin Constitution reads: ‘ In order to ensure to citizens freedom of conscience the church in the U.S.S.R. is separated from the State and the school from the church. Freedom of religious worship and freedom of anti-religious propaganda are reiognised for all citizens.’

“ This article is quite clear, and by no means a dead letter. Indeed, in 1940 in Russia there were over 30,000 independent religious communities of every kind, over 8000 churches, and about 60,000 priests and ministers of religion. Believers were actively religious, frequented the services, married in church, christened their children, and had a religious funeral.” M. Maisky also mentioned that in the new Polish army, now being created on the territory of Russia, Roman Catholic chaplains were admitted to administer to the forces. Ridiculous Nazi Assertions

Dealing with the Russian-German campaign, M. Maisky said: “ The assertion of the German High Command that their losses to August 31 amounted to little more than 400,000 men, including 6900 flyers and 725 aircraft, can only be considered ridiculous. It is enough to look at the losses in the air war. Taking as the average three flyers per machine, both bombers and fighters, on their own showing the losses of German planes should be 2300, not 725. But even this does not fully expose the lies. According to a conservative estimate the actual losses suffered by Germany consist of some 3,000,000 men killed, wounded, and missing. The number of> German planes destroyed within the first three months of the war in the east amount to . something like 8500. About one-third of the whole of the German army is now hors de cofribat.”

M. Maisky, however, did not minimise the seriousness of the situation due to the Russian loss, the occupation of important industrial districts, and the necessary destruction of plant by the Russians themselves. From democratic and freedomloving countries he appealed for help in the way of more aeroplanes and more tanks. “In sending help,” said M. Maisky, “ these countries cannot but realise that ‘■they are helping themselves.” \ Tense and Difficult

After referring to the German losses, M. Maisky added: “ Nevertheless, the German war machine is still strong. Russia is facing a tense and difficult situation. The Russian forces evacuated a number of factories and plants, but some time must elapse before they will be able to restart on their new sites. Neither the autumn nor the winter will bring to a standstill the war on the eastern front. The Soviet has the right to expect the co-operation of other freedom-loving countries. Lord Nuffield said nothing more could be done to speed up tanks than he and his colleagues were at present doing. Tanks are now being produced as planes were produced when they were the first requisite.”