Evening star., 1947-05-27
Moscow Press Halls
End oi Death Penalty
|Asp Peace ReassuIaIlce
BY The Assoeia,sd Press

MOSCOW, May 27.-Capital pun
ishmert has been abolished by the
Presidium of the Supreme Soviet,
and the move was hailed hy Mos
cows press today as an Indication
the Russians are convinced there Is
no danger of another world war.
The Presidium's decree ftself said
that "the causes of peace can be
considered as secured, despite the
attempts being made by aggressive
elements to provoke war; 1t added
that the application of the death
sentence no longer was necessary
"in peacetime conditions .
Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei
Y. Vishinsky, writing In. the Com
munist Party newspaper Prayda,
said "the PreSidium OF the Supreme
Soviet, in taking the decision ban
ming the death sentence, took into
consideration the international sit
uation."
He said there was no universal
threat to peace, despite "the pro-
vocative speeches of some foolish
American Senators like Thomas,
Russell, Brewster and others"
International Aspect Stressed.
The death penalty has been in
voked chiefly in cases of persons
convicted of offenses against ma
tional security. For the same crimes
for which capital punishment has
been meted out, offenders hence
forth will be given Is years at
hard labor.
The Soviet Unions principal
newspapers welcomed the decree
and heavily stressed its interna-
tional aspects.
"Our government has always
looked upon the death sentence as
a temporary measure brought on by
special circumstances" said the
trade union organ, Trud. when our
country had classes hostile to the
Soviet regime; when counter
revolutionary political parties and
groups of agents of foreign espion-
age still operated; when the rem
nants of these parties carried on
conspiracy, terror and treacherous
undermining work, the Soviet gov
ernment was compelled to cut short
this criminal activity by the stern
est Of measures"
CThe decree was interpreted by
Russian sources in London as
evidence of an increased feeling
Of security within the Soviet
Union and a sign that drastic
measures no longer were con-
stdered necessary to preserve
the State)
The government newspaper, Tzves-
tia, commenting on the decree, said
'the Soviet state is struggling tire
Iessly for securing peace throughout
the world"
Contributing to Progress"
The army newspaper Red Star said
that by the decree "the Soviet gov
ernrnent has made grand contri-
button to the cause of progress of
all humanity"
"It is true" said the newspaper,
which Is read by every officer In the
Soviet Army, that reactionary
forces frequently in these times,
hiding in the guise of democracy,
10 not cease their undermining work,
,rying to plant distrust and hostility
between peoples and inflame the
ire Of a new war.
"But the people do not want a
war. They are for a sound and dem
,cratic peace. The Soviet Union,
faithful to its policy of peace and
collaboration with other
is striving consistently and
,ersistently for the cause OF peace"
Mr.. Vishinsky's editorial in Pravda
said that Despite the fact that
here are still efforts of aggressive
slements to provoke war;" the cause
If peace could be considered secure
'or lasting period.
There are many such efforts, as
he provocative speeches of some
oolish American Senators like
Thomas, Russell, Brewster and
others bear proof, who urge war
against the q. s. S. r. Such an
attempt would be inevitably doomed
70 failure"