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Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18068, 20 April 1933, Page 8

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SENTENCED ENGINEERS SOVIET’S LOST PRESTIGE ITTTICT OF Till: EM I! A I (GO (Klee. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Received Anri I 20, 2 p.m.) lAIN DON, April .19. 'I he Metrd-Vickers Company has telegraphed the Central Executive of the Soviet urging the commutation of the sentences on the British engineers.

Thornton's and .Maellmiald'.s petitions may he answered to-morrow. A refusal of their appeal is deemed to he unlikely. Russian counsel is also lodging a petition that Xordwall’s wife should he permitted to accompany her husband to England, though she is a Soviet citi/.on.

If the embargo is imposed, Australia and New Zealand are nut. likely greatly to benefit, because Soviet exports to Britain continue to decline drastically. The Sun .Service understands that Thornton's and 'Mael lona Id’s immediate re lease would cause Britain to reconsider, and probably remove, the embargo before it operates. The Times’ Riga correspondent says that such a mild outcome of a trial for espionage and wrecking is almost .unprecedented. The Soviet undoubtedly regrets starting the mismanaged trial, which has done much to wreck the Government's prestige at home and abroad. It is believed that the Government hopes to make the release of Thornton and MacDonald a question of bargaining.