PANIC-STRICKEN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 206, 1 September 1936, Page 7

PANIC-STRICKEN.

RUSSIANS IN LONDON.

Ogpu Third Degree Methods

Applied.

ANTI-SOVIET PLOTS SUSPECT. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 12.30 p.m.) . LONDON, August 31. A special correspondent of the "Daily Mail" says that with the exception of the permanent Ogpu (Soviet secret police) detachment in Britain and four Stalin fanatics, the whole of the Russian colony in London is panic-stricken. The majority have been subjected to gruelling examinations.

A Soviet engineer has already three times postponed an appointment with a big Britisli firm to discuss a large contract. He has been questioned by Ogpu agents for 36 hours and is now under medical treatment.

The Russian colony lias abandoned every vestige of gaiety or social life. They refuse to answer telephone calls and have cut themselves oft' from their friends here.

The third operates at the Soviet Embassy day and night. Experts are trying to obtain confessions regarding the Trotsky.-Zinovieff conspiracy against Stalin and a revolutionary plot in the "Red Army," which allegedly originated and is being financed in the London Embassy.

The Soviet Embassy denies the alleged Ogpu activities and states that Dr. Ozersky, a member of the staff said to have been arrested, is returning to London.