By noon the last hope was also gone. The then US President Eisenhower showed no mercy. The President’s order clearly stated that the accused couple has been given full opportunity under the legal process. Given all the complexities and technical aspects of this case, none of the judges created any doubt that they have committed a serious act of espionage. In a statement issued from the White House, it was said that in this case I (the President) can say that the danger of nuclear war is increasing, in such a situation millions of people around the world could have lost their lives due to Rozenberg Couple. It is a serious matter to give death sentence to two human beings, but even more important thing is to imagine the death of lakhs of people. When the spies convicted under the law of the land have been given full opportunity to escape, the court has given its verdict, then I will not interfere in this matter.
The lawyer had said, relations with the world will be in danger
Just half an hour before the President took the decision, Rozenberg’s chief lawyer appealed to the President, saying that if the couple were put to death, the world would be surprised because there was a lot of doubt in this case. The lawyer had even said that the President should take time to look into the matter seriously because if the mercy petition is rejected, America’s relations with its friendly countries may be in jeopardy. He had said that millions of people of the world would condemn this punishment. There was a high level initiative in Britain to save this couple. The Prime Minister was urged to speak directly to the US President. Winston Churchill’s one line reply came that it is neither in my jurisdiction nor my duty to interfere in this matter. Over 50 protesters sat at 10 Downing Street overnight, but with no result.
Communist Party, Espionage and the Atom Bomb
Julius studied electrical engineering and joined the Army Signal Corps in 1940. He handled radar equipment. He was also a leader in the Young Communist League and met Ethel there. Ethel wanted to become an actress and also used to sing well. But got a job as a secretary in a shipping company. She became involved in a staff dispute and joined the Young Communist League. In 1942, both also became full members of the American Communist Party. It is said that after a year, Kampal left the party so that the mission of espionage could be carried out. Julius was expelled from the Signal Corps when the army discovered his connections to the Communist Party.
Ethel’s relative, Sergeant David Greenglass, confessed to the crime of sending secret information to the USSR through a courier. During interrogation, he took the name of this couple. Julius was arrested on 17 June 1950 and Ethel on 11 August. The trial began on 6 March. From the beginning, there was a lot of discussion about this case in the media. Public opinion was divided into two camps. Greenglass turned approver and testified that Ethel typed information about American nuclear secrets that passed through several people to the Soviet Vice-Consul in New York City.
Electric Chair and…
He was the first American to be executed for espionage-related activities during the Cold War. He was held responsible for the fact that it was only because of the secret leak that Russia was able to make the atom bomb and its aggressive stance was seen in Korea. On June 19, 1953, both of them stopped beating due to strong electric current.
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