The death sentence recently passsd by the Soviet Government on
the Archbishop Ciepliak has been com- muted to ten years' solitary confinement, probably as the result of the violent protests raised on all sides. The original sentence was passed for alleged political crime, and as part of a general anti-religious policy of the Soviet Government. The commutation is, of course, only better in the letter; the spirit remains. Undoubtedly this -incident will be used as an argument for the recognition of Russia, since it has shown only too clearly how really weak in a crisis is our present position. The death sentence of Mgr. Butkevitch, who was condemned with the Archbishop, has not been commuted. He was shot last Saturday. Mr. Hodgson, the British Trade Repre- sentative in •Moscow, in common with representatives of other nations, sent a note to M. Tchitcherin requesting the Soviet not to execute Mgr. Butkevitch. A reply was sent to Mr. Hodgson protesting in impudent terms, and with irrelevant statements about Ireland and India, against- foreign interference in the course of Soviet justice. Mr. Hodgson returned the Note. The Poles have been particularly disturbed over these incidents and have barely been prevented from violence in their demonstrations.
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