"ONLY AN EXCUSE"

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 517, 28 April 1933, Page 5

"ONLY AN EXCUSE"

(Press Assn

the vfckers case LABOUR PEER ALLEGES GOVT. DESIRED BREACH A SHARP REPLY

. — By Telegraph — Copyright).

(Rec. April 26.) London, April 26. In the House of Lords, Lord Ponsonby raised the question of the Government's Russian policy, and protested against-.the embargo on Russian goods. He said Labour had never deviated from the view that though the English engineers should be released there was no need in anywise for a breach of Anglo-Russian relations. The Government had adopted the worst possible manner in handling the Moscow trial problem. Sir John Simon, the Foreign Minister, had deliberately worked the House of Commons to a frenzied indignation. Then followed the pure melodrama of a council meeting in the early morning at Windsor. If the Government had delayed the embargo for 48 hours Thornton and MacDonald 'would, foreign press opinion in Moscow was convinced, have been liberated by now without the Government's blundering and the remaining prisoners would have been quickly deported. The whole business showed that the Government's principal desire was to use the case as an excuse again for a breach of relations. Ministerial Reply *"Q. Lord Hailsham, Secretary of State for War, in replying said that every syllable of Lord Ponsonby's speech was calculated to prevent the release of Thornton and MacDonald. By some odd kink in their mentality the British Socialists were always disposed to think their own country in the wrong. This fallacy did not char- ' aeterise the Socialists of any other country. Presumably as they desired the release of the prisoners, the Labourites were convinced of the Englishmen's innocence and must therefore admit there had been a gross miscarriage of justice. The early council meeting at Windsor was held for His Majesty's eonvenience. Presumably Labour would have done nothing in the matter but simply awaited the Soviet's pleasure not to press the sentences. The facts did not bear out the suggestion that the men would have been liberated if the embargo had not been enacted. Lord Hailsham added: "I am glad Lord Ponsonby stated the Government desired a breach with Russia as it enables me here and now to state categorically that it is untrue. The powers were obtained solely to secure the lives and liberties of our men, and there was no intention of using them for any other purpose. The embargo will continue only so long as Thornton and MacDonald are in prison." Lord Ponsonby forced a division on his motion calling for the papers and it was defeated by 53 votes to 7.