Revenge

Mechislav Vorovsky, head of the Soviet delegation at Lausanne, was shot dead by Maurice Alexander Conradi (Swiss, whilom Tsarist officer), while dining at the Hotel Cecil in Lausanne.

Naturally enough the Soviet oligarchy in Moscow were greatly incensed over the affair. They have accused all their numerous enemies of complicity in the shooting. It is perhaps unfortunate that the murder took place at a time when Britain had sent a stiff note to Russia and shortly after the shooting of Slogett, a clerk in the British Commercial Mission in Moscow, by the Soviet police. The event has complicated and enhanced the political importance of an otherwise regrettable but insignificant occurrence. Despite rumors of war and the bursts of indignation from Soviet Russia and the Communists of other countries, it cannot be denied that the importance of the murder at Lausanne is purely illusory.

The Soviet delegation at Lausanne were there unofficially, and were not entitled to diplomatic police protection. It is, therefore, futile for the Bolsheviki to accuse the Swiss of negligence. Conradi had a personal grievance against the Communists of Russia. His father and uncle were the victims of Bolsheviki cruelty. He therefore acted on the principle of " Vengeance is mine; I will repay! " And he did repay. There seems nothing of international importance attached to the unfortunate and regrettable death of M. Vorovsky.