EMBARGO IN FORCE

Hokitika Guardian, 27 April 1933, Page 5

EMBARGO IN FORCE

ON RUSSIAN GOODS

BRITISH COMMONS REVIEW.

(British Official Wireless.)

RUGBY, April 25. The Royal proclamation which was issued last week, a few hours after • the British Government received news of the sentences passed or the British f engineers at the Moscow trial, and under which, the importation of about 80 per cent of Soviet commodities, which this country had latterly imported, has prohibited, takes effect as from to-morrow night. In the Commons, Sir J. Simon said the return of the Moscow engineers would be insisted on, for Thornton and MacDonald were completely innocent. He was convinced that the Governr - ment’s action was entirely justified. Mr Baldwin, in reply-to Mr Lansbury, said: “I think a debate on the Russian embargo;would not at present help .the imprisoned engineers.” The four British engineers who were, deported from Russia, j -visiteu the Foreign Office today, and ;had.a long conversation with-the Foreign Secretary and .officials of thp Department. Sir Esmond Ovoy, British ambassador, who was recalled to London for consultation, was present." Before pro*, ceeding to the Foreign Office, the en. gineers) were engaged in consultationwith Sir Felix Pole and. other directors of 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. Metropolitan Vickers employees. Monkhouse said he was absolutely satisfied the company’s instruction •t;hat they must concern thems,elves only with Metropolitan Vickers, Company’s work, and be scrupulously careful not to take part in. political or other .controversy affecting the Government of U.S.S.R.-. had,.f>.een, faithfully observed by all the ystaff. The company, after listening to the verbal reports of tb© four engineers, is more than ever convinced of the.innocence of Thornton and MacDonald.

K|NG SENDS MESSAGE, RUGBY, April, 24. , This morning the. King,. through Sir Cli re jWigra.m, sent a message expressing hisgratification that the. Metropolitan Vickers • Coy’s engineers, re--1 * cently on trial, had returned , safely \ to England, and his hope that their K two colleagues^, who are . sijll in,,prison in Moscow, may also i soon -return ! home. On behalf of the -,colttpaliy,- git Felix Pole requested Sit Olive Wigrattl to eoHvey to His Majesty the com* party’s dutiful thunks ami warm ftppreeiaticm of lug gl'acigus message, which :he undertook to communicate immediately to the engineers,by whom it would be greatly valued and appreciated. EMBARGO TAKES EFFECT, LONDON, April 26. The . British embargo on Russian, imports came into operation at 5 p.m. to-day. Any goods now received from therq must be taken back to Russia or be disposed of elsewhere.