RBITISH RETALIATION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 83, 8 April 1933, Page 7

RBITISH RETALIATION

THE MOSCOW ARRESTS DAMAGING TRADE EMBARGO SOVIET ALIVE TO DANGER TRIAL NOT A SHOW AFFAIR By Tcleeraph—Pres? Association —Copyright! Received April 7, 11.20 p.m. MOSCOW, April 7. The British United Press correspondent says that the Soviet is not underestimating the seriousness of Britain’s threatened retaliation for the arrest of the Vickersites. Britian is the largest buyer of Soviet products and consequently the embargo would be disastrous. The trial will be a quiet affair in a small courtroom, and quite different to the earlier show trials. Apart from a. few vitriolic editorials against the English ‘‘diehard hysteria,’’ the news of the whole affair is confined to formal communiques. The Government is obviously holding publicity strictly in check. THIRD READING PASSED. SIR JOHN SIMON’S COMMENT Received April 7 7.15 p.m. LONDON, April 7. The House of Commons passed the third reading of the Russian Embargo Bill by 291 votes to 41. Sir John Simon, closing the debate, expressed the hope that the powers •conferred would not have to be used. That depended on the Russian authorities. Sir John trusted that this Act, conducted in the light of day and 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 and incorrect course. It was merely trying to help imperilled Englishmen. COLLEGIUM OF LAWYERS MR. MONKHOUSE CONFERS MOSCOW, April C. Mr. Monkhouse conferred with tin collegium of lawyers, from whom he will select counsel for the defence. The collegium includes a number of pre-revolution eminent lawyers. The newspapers omit all reference to the House of Commons debate. Mr. Vishinsky has informed Mr. Monkhouse that the dossiers for the prosecution will be ready for presentation to counsel for the defence tomorrow. It. is understood that the engineers declined the Court’s offer to provide counsel. MR. TURNER LEAVES WILL ATTEND TRIAL LONDON, April G. Mr. Robert Turner, solicitor for Metropolitan. Vickers, has been granted a visa and will go to Moscow tonight, accompanied by an interpreter, to attend the trial as observer. PAYMENTS UP TO DATE RELATIONS SATISFACTORY LONDON, April (>. At a shareholders’ meeting of the Associated Electrical Industries, it was asked whether the £1,500,000 which Russia owed Metropolitan Vickers had been written off. Sir Felix Pole (chairman), replied that personally he considered that the arrests of the engineers were not connected with the Soviet’s financial com mitments. AH of the amounts due to date had been paid, including a sum this week. The balance would become due over the next live years, and he hoped it would be paid. The company’s relations with Moscow for ten years had been most satisfactory. The engineers had been instructed scrupulously to avoid political controversy. He believed that they had faithfully observed the instructions. RUSSIAN TRADE REMAINING. STAGES OF BILL [ British Official Wireless.} RUGBY, April 6. The remaining stages of the Bill enabling the Government to prohibit by proclamation the importation or 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 which JSir 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. W. Runci man, on behalf of the Government, refused to accept it. He proposed, however, a time limit of three months with a proviso that the measure could be continued by means of Parliamen tary resolution before the expiration of that period or until a further reso lution praying for it to be revoked ( was passed by each House. Sir H. Samuel said that he was most grateful for Mr. Runciman’s sta’ ment, and if it had been made the previous day the Liberals would have voted for the second reading. Replying to Sir Austen Chamberlain, Mr. Runciman geve an undertak ing on behalf of the Goveriuncnt that they would use the powers contained in the measure for no other purpose than to enable them to intervene effectively on behalf of British subjects now in peril in Russia.