04.09.1997

G Chicherin’s interment

From ‘The Call’, paper of the British Socialist Party, August 30 1917

Comrade G Chicherin was taken to Brixton jail last Saturday. In a letter sent to the home secretary our comrade deals with the allegations against him, “that, having regard to his anti-Ally and pro-German activities and sentiments, he is a danger to the public safety and the defence of the realm”, and says:

“I must declare that characterising international socialism, the teaching which inspires my activities and sentiments, as being presumably ‘anti-Ally and pro-German’ is a total misrepresentation of its nature and aims. We, the international socialists, oppose imperialism in its totality, alike in its German, British and other representations.”

... Among the witnesses comrade Chicherin has called to be heard by the advisory committee in connection with his case are Philip Snowden MP, WC Anderson MP, EC Fairchild, Albert Inkpin, Joseph King MP and Mrs Bridges Adams, as well as the Russian vice-consul and the commissioner of the Russian Provisional Government, Mr Sviatikov.