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Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 97, 27 April 1933, Page 7

CANADIAN PRISONERS. TORONTO, April 25. The exchange of eight Communists serving sentences in Canadian penitentiaries for the two English engineers imprisoned in Moscow was proposed to the Government by the Community Bible Class. None of the Canadian prisoners arc Russians. VICKERS’ STATEMENT CONVINCED OF INNOCENCE [ British Official Wireless.] RUGBY, April 25. A statement on the Russian question will be made in the House of Commons by Sir John Simon to-morrow. The Royal proclamation, ■which was issued last week a few hours after the British Government received news of the sentences passed on the British engineers at the Moscow trial and under which the importation of about 80 per cent, of the Soviet ‘commodities which this country had latterly imported is prohibited, takes effect as from to-morrow night. The four British engineers who were deported from Russia visited the Foreign Office to-day and had a long conversation with 4 the Foreign Secretary and officials of the department. Sir Esmond Ovey. British Ambassador who was recallcll to London for the consultation, was present. Before proceeding to the Foreign Office the engineers were engaged in consultation with Sir Felix Pole and other directors of the Metropolitan Vickers. A meeting held later issued the following statement: “The whole matter of the recent trial was discussed. The engineers were entirely unable to account for or explain the arrest of the Metropolitan Vickers employees. Mr Monkhouse said that he was absolutely satisfied that the company’s instruction that they must concern themselves onlv with Metropolitan Vickers Co.’s work and bo scrupulously careful not to take part in political or other controversy affecting the Government of the United Socialist Soviet Republic had been faithfully observed by all of the staff. “The company, after listening to the verbal reports, of the four engineers, are more than ever convinced of the innocence of Messrs Thornton and MacDonald. ’ ’ RUSSIAN IMPORTS BRITISH EMBARGO OPERATES Received April 26, 9.10 p.m. LONDON, April 25. The British embargo on Russian imports came, into operation at 5 p.m. Goods now received must be taken back to Russia or disposed of elsewhere.