Show Britain Strikes Back at Soviet With Embargo Action Follows Conviction of Five Subjects on Russ Spying Charges ONE DEFENDANT FREED 1 Two Britons Imprisoned 3 Others Banished I I If f Br By United Press Pren LONDON April 19 England I struck truck back at soviet Russia today for or conviction of five British subjects subjects sub- sub on espionage charges King George and the privy council coun coun- cil il declared an 80 per cent embargo on n Russian imports and Metropolitan Vickers company employer of the convicted man ordered an immediate immedi immedi- ate appeal on behalf of two defend ants who were sent to prison The partial embargo amounting practically to declaration of an economic economic eco ceo nomie war will become effective April 26 Sir Felix Pole chairman of Metropolitan Metropolitan Met- Met Vickers issued a statement reaffirming his faith in his five convicted convicted con con- as appeals were ordered ordered or- or dered for William MacDonald and nd W W. V. V H. H Thornton the only tw two to sent sento to o prison The The- statement echoed a 3 general British opinion that not had received a fair trial UPHOLDS INNOCENCE Knowing the two men there is no 10 doubt in my mind that they were h hypnotized in some way Sir Felix said in commenting upon the incriminating incriminating mating admissions made by MacDonald MacDon- MacDon aid ald Id and Thornton during the trial Not for a moment do I believe them guilty guJt h Until the three defendants who were sentenced only to banishment return to London Metropolitan Vick Vick- ers ens rs will continue its work in R Russia ssi The later policy will wm be decided after the he banished men confer with the company's executives Foreign diplomats believed the embargo weakened the possibility of the he soviet commuting to banishment the tic prison sentences imposed upon V. V sv H. H Thornton and William Mac- Mac Donald The diplomats thought that as part of its retaliation the soviet oviet would force the Britons to serve their heir full sentences FEW LEFT OUT OUT OUr Only unimportant items excepting furs urs were not included in the cm- cm m. m bargo argo The huge soviet imports of wheat and other grains and timber Umber were cut off completely The embargo embargo em- em bargo argo specified only petrol petroleum um and oils ils leaving some doubt if it petroleum byproducts were included Britain regularly approximately ap ap- proximately two-thirds two of her imports ot of f Russian furs and an embargo on Continued on OD Page Pue Two 4 1 BRITAIN STRIKES STRIKE BACK BACK AT T RUSSIA Continued Pom From Puce Page PA One m this thi Item would have cut off a profit fi able business f ji Eggs also were exempt from t embargo but poultry was a. te Life Exile Exie Instead of Prison Asked MOSCOW April prU 19 The PJ JT eel executive committee of soviel ce Russia was petitioned Rusia today to com mute to exile exie for life le the prison co ECU imposed early this morning moring or c L. L C. C Thornton and William L. L 1 MDonald Ma Mac Donald British engineers who w wen convicted of at espionage sabotage and bribery ad Thornton and MacDonald received the only sentences imposed on thi th five Britons who were found guilty te Thornton was as given civen a year three-year gUity pr on term and ad MacDonald a two iwo years ears The Te petition was presented by B n 1 Braude who served as defense coun sel for Thornton Torton Allan Alan rn chief ot of the thc Met Mt Y Vickers kers in Rus SiD sia and two of his hi associates s Jo Ru Cushny and C H. H nd 1 all al o whom were sentenced to from from the country county had not yet decide whether they also will alo request a r re me view of their sentences Under th verdict verdic none of ot the men is to appeal appal the cases case but all 1 i are to pett petition n the central live committee mercy The merc Te fou Englishmen who were freed d today with th their ir British advisers and soviet attorneys They were Ing arrangements to lea leave e by train trA T tf rn v UL LJ RaF lin tn r c n v UL LJ tn c n IVL ud evening L l will not be guarded on their trip fr e fm Moscow Cushny was WS as busily packing his bI ef ere feeLs in his hi apartment this thi while the little Welshman Albert Abert W W. Gregory Gregor who had been acquitted helped him J spent most of ot the dai daj In the Vickers Metropolitan office d in the tho Import Electro building winding i up his affairs was trying frying tying to obtain obi P per pep mission from the soviet for his Russian Russi wie wife to a accompany com him to London 3 Mrs is i expecting er ex ez a child In four months J. J H. H W. W Buckle and d J. J C C. Buk 1 two of the Metropolitan em ei eI here who did not enter the case will wi be temporarily in i charge pi f the office when the others leave 5 On Instructions from London It wa announced none of the British Brish dip matic representatives here would s 's JA tend Lend a reception being given by Maxim Maim Litvinoff commissar fO foj foreign affairs and his hi wie wife I |