The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1930. A JUDICIAL BURLESQUE.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 December 1930, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1930. A JUDICIAL BURLESQUE.

The Soviet Government has either a very grim sense ot' humour or is utterly devoid ot that quality. While tho great Moscow conspiracy trial would appear to have afforded the Russian people entertainment something equivalent to that provided lor the Bom an populace, in the palmy days of the arena, to the world at largo, says the Otago Times, it has appealed merely as a political performance of a blatant and stupid kind. The professors who were arraigned for conspiring against the Soviet were inspired by the common purpose of confessing their guilt, telling a story revealing the perfidy of France and Great Britain, and commending their heads to the executioner and their souln to HftaVeii. As material for the kihema tiie trial may have merited the admiration due to a masterpiece. But a sceptical worls is not to be deceived by mummery so transparent. For the satirical comments of foreign journals further justification is now provided in the anti-climax to all the guilty confessions, shocking disclosures, relentless cross-examinings, popular cries for blood, and pitiful shudderings of the repentant criminals. Five professors were sentenced to death, but the Soviet is a father to its people. As has been explained in a remarkable communique-, “the Soviet cannot be guided by the mere desire for revenge, particularly in re. Intion to repentant criminals who have confessed pjncl been rendered harmless. Surely a crocodile tear blotted that bright official page. .The commutation of the death sentences will only go to verify the opinion of Tie trial generally entertained outside Russia, which has found succinct expression in the English newspaper.?, and to confirm the impressiom that the whole business wap stage managed for the purpose of propaganda anions the Russian people.JJt is sufficiently evident that the trial was arranged, no doubt with very carcl'ul rehearsal, with a view to its effect upon the minds of the Russian mass es. In other words, it w?is a political demonstration designed to cast odium on foreign Governments as enemies of Soviet Russia and divert the attention of the Russian proletariat from the Soviet’s own failures and the miscry they are bringing upon It. the Russian people may be imposed upon by isuch theatricals, but If the Government in Moscow imagined that It would impress foreign opinion by using such methods it showed little acumen. A fitting s°quel to the judicial burlevSque would be that the chastened professors should not even be imprisoned after all, but be quietly released as men who have done the State some service, and permitted, for the sake of appearances, to take other narr.es and continues to show their zeal for Communism. When the Soviet Gov orntnent roallv desires to get rid of citizens of whom it- harbours -suspicions it is not generally its way to turn on the limelight, or both about a public trial, or indeed about any judicial procedure at all.