In fact. the trial has prompted a variety of protests ranging from a petition to Premier Kosygin signed by 2.500 United States and Canadian university faculty members to a more direct expression of outrage by some 200 Parisians who stormed a public hall in Paris to prevent a performance of the Red Army chorus. There are signs that the Russians may now believe they have overplayed their hand. The trials were originally scheduled for a November start but were postponed until midDecember. There is another report that the wives and families of nine of the accused were offered exit visas in hopes of stilling the chorus of protest. The wives refused the offer. declaring that they would leave only if accompanied by their husbands. .. Clearly. the Leningrad trials are attrpcting more public attention than the Russians had sought.