JEWISH RABBIS ARRESTED.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18502, 25 February 1930, Page 9

JEWISH RABBIS ARRESTED.

“Crimes” Against Soviet. SOME AMAZING ALLEGATIONS. (United Press Assoc'atlon —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) (Received February 24, 7.0 p.m.) LONDON, February 24. “A great Jewish counter-revolution-ary organisation discovered,” is how the official Soviet organs justify the repressive anti-Jewish measures in Minsk. According to the “Times” Riga correspondent. a number of Rabbis have been arrested and charged with crimes against the Soviet Government. The most serious offence apparently is corresponding with Jews abroad; also appealing to them to “provide assistance for perishing Jews in Russia.” The greatest criminal is the American Rabbi Cleser, who “abused the Soviet’s confidence” by visiting Minsk, where he secretly inquired as to the Soviet’s attitude towards religion. He also clandestinely discussed the economic conditions of the Jewish masses. Rabbi Cleser later visited Paris, where he informed other Rabbis of the results of his inquiries. Those arrested include a number of the leading members of the Jewish community in Minsk. INTEREST IN AMERICA. SUCCESSFUL INTERCESSIONS. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyr. ght.) (Received February 24, 7.40 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Feb. 24. According to a letter received by Senator Borah from M. Litvinoff, all but three of the fourteen rabbis, who were recently arrested, have been released. Senator Borah said: “Among those released, I understand, is Rabbi Vlaskin. I feel reasonably certain that the three who have not been released, are not in danger of execution.” [A cable message from Washington, published yesterday, reported that Senator Borah was attempting to intercede with the Soviet, on behalf of fourteen Jewish rabbis, who were recently arrested. He worked independently of the State Department, which took no action. Senator Borah admitted that he had sent a cablegram to the Soviet authorities at Moscow, asking for details of the reported arrest, but declined to discuss the case, pending a reply.] ARROGANCE OF SOVIET. FIERCE ATTACK ON CHURCH LEADERS. vUnited Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) (Received February 24, 11.30 p.m.) MOSCOW, February 24. The twelfth anniversary of the formation of the Red Army was celebrated with great fervour.

The occasion was taken throughout the Soviet to emphasise the danger of the united capitalist attack, the inevitability of which is 'almost a tenet of the Communist faith. M. Vorosrilov (War Commissar) in a manifesto, said: “Not since the end of the civil wars have the hostile activities of the Imperialists assumed such proportions. A wild anti-Soviet campaign has developed, and the world’s first proletarian nation is being drenched with an ocean of lies. Libel, provocation, false documents, sabotage, and everything is being used against us.” The Pope and the Archbishop of Canterbury, and other dignitaries figure prominently in the list of enemies of the Soviet published in Pravda. One commemoration of the event, the highest honour —the Order of the Red Banner, has been awarded to M. Stalin.