Evening star., 1930-12-17

The trial and sentencing Of the eight
engineers In Russia on the charge of
conspiring with outside powers for the
overthrow of Communism Is looked upon
as well reheafSed play for political
effect in most quarters of the world,
including the United States.
Referring to the course of the prose-
cution, the San Francisco Chronicle
says: They have put on wonderful
melodrama, with Stain as Eliza carry
ing Russia over the ice to safety while
the bloodhounds Of capitalism are bay
ing on the trail. He ought to have a
name for his little play. We suggest
Use Horocho Kogda Horocho Koncha
EtSya.' Shakespeare used the English
equivalent AIS Well That Ends Well,
but Stain need not let that stop him.
If he likes the idea, he can go ahead
and confiscate it," concludes the
Chronicle.
THE world may direct its carping
criticism against flaws in the realism Of
the plot, movie directors undoubtedly
could give the amateur dramatists of
the Soviet some valuable pointers on
the ideal court room scene" says the
Cleveland News, but no such fine
analysis will be made by the countless
numbers of Russians who listened in or
saw the pictures of the trial" The
Schenectady Gazette calls the trial the
most dramatic spectacle ever staged
by government" and the Houston
Chronicle remarks: I'm the regions
'Moscow's Follies of 1880 no doubt rang
true. But the whole affair looked flshy
to those individuals who lived beyond
the mental and physical control of the
SovietS"
such a show as that staged in the
courts of Moscow Is unparalleled in re-
cent times" declares the Jackson Citi-
zen-Patriot, which considers that ''it has
demonstrated conclusively that the So
Wet government, which is continually
protesting its honesty is not averse to
the cheapest sort of a device for mis-
leading the people upon whom it de-
pendS for support. The Communists
have complained bitterly that they are
misrepresented in capitalistic nations"
continues this paper, but they never
will be justified in complaining again,
for they have outdone all other efforts
at political deception"
X X
That at was admirable propaganda
and doubtless galvanized all the waver-
ing members of the proletariat into SEN
timent for protecting Russia against the
capitalist countries" is the opinion of
the Chattanooga News.
Nothing helps better to line up the
home folks in support of the Govern
ment than making them believe foreign
countries have designs on their coun-
try" notes the New Bedford Evening
Standard, since "in the face of for
eign menace people are likely to forget
their domestic"
AS to the escape of the confessed con-
spiratorS from the death penalty, the
Chicago Daily Tribune asks: "Is 1t
reasonable to believe that the ruthless
vengeance and despotic policy of the
Communist masters of Russia would
suddenly feel the gentle influence of
mercy? Common sense will look for the
real motive, and. it is not obscure" an
swers this paper. 1.-THE conspiracy trial
was a great show The sequel is illumi-
mating" The Des Moines Tribune-Cap-
ital remarks that possibly the 'propa-
ganda' aspect Of the prosecution would
seem little less conspicuous If the
Soviets had promptly shot all eight.
The outside world may seem hard to
please in these things" it concludes.
THE curtain thus drops on one of
the most elaborate stage settings in the
history Of international drama, with the
altruistic Soviet playing an unfamiliar
and unconvincing role" states the
Springfield (MaSs) Union.
"One thing alone is tolerably clear"
aff1rms the Rochester Times Union. "It
Is inconceivable that such statesman
as BRAND should be meditating armed
intervention in Russia, Nor is it likely
that either the British or the French
government has had any real connec-
ton with efforts to sabotage the fve-
year plan" AS to the latter, the Mil
waukee Sentinel says: THE five-year
production program apparently will fail,
with q loss of prestige to the Soviet
government. 1t was necessary that a
goat-or. as 1t turned out, eight goats
be found. The commissars of Moscow
can now say that eight engineers in key
positions wrecked the five-year program
by their traitorous machinatioris. The
engineers meanwhile will langelsh as
long as Is 4scessaTy in prison. @TheH