Sir Herbert Deplores Soviet Religious Persecution, but Opposes Severing Relations

Religious persecution undoubtedly exists in Russia but the reports of religious atrocities are exaggerated, declared Sir Herbert Samuel, former High Commissioner in Palestine, addressing a meeting of his constituency in Darwen. Admitting that the Soviets “practice spiritual oppression, outrage feelings of reverence and flout tolerance,” Sir Herbert said that this was “no reason to break off diplomatic relations.”

“We had diplomatic relations with the Czar,” said Sir Herbert, “but that did not imply approval of his oppression. Similarly relations with Moscow do not imply approval of their internal actions. But the Russian leaders should know that the moral sense of mankind in all countries and of all classes and creeds profoundly disapproves of their attack on the primary human rights of liberty of thought.”