SOUNDING BRASS

Assuming a slightly choleric tone with a faint but perceptible reddening of the gills, John Bull has bellowed a loud protest at the Soviet Union for its jailing of four British subjects on charges of sabotage. Conservatives and reactionaries in the Oemmons gleefully welcomed the pretext to indulge in verbal Bolshevik-baiting, dwelling fervidly on the wicked OGPU and its modern inquisition tendencies. Threats to cancel lrade and diplomatic relations with Russia are noised about. Meanwhile Russia has announced her intention to go through with the trial.

The imprisoned Englishmen in question are all employees of the Metropolitan-Vickers Company, a British firm doing some work for the Communist government. They have been accused of deliberately attempting to wreck the power system. Two other Britons from the same company were also arrested, but later released; one of them, Alan Monkhouse, reported that the wicked OGPU had treated him with extreme courtesy and intelligence. From their purely disinterested position the British authorities have decided, and have informed the Soviets, that the case against the remaining four is inadequate and should be dismissed at once. Russia, on the other hand, has steadily held the view that since these Englishmen came into the country at their own risk, and were enjoying the trust of the government, they must be held responsible for the known laws of the land, as any other citizens would be. They are to be given a fair and public trial with all the ordinary civil rights. If they are innocent, they can prove it. If not, they must take the consequences.

It should be made clear that England is not objecting on the grounds of illegal or unjust prosecution, for there is nothing of that in the present case. She is disputing the right of Russia to bring to trial men believed to have contemplated a grave attack on the State. As yet Britain has presented no good reason why the Bolsheviks should not place these men on trial. She has been able only to cry "Outrage" and adopt the general attitude of the old gentlemen who write letters to the London Times. There seems to be plenty of sound and fury in the British camp, signifying nothing, unless some deep political intrigue.