ESPIONAGE IN RUSSIA

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23943, 10 May 1943, Page 4

ESPIONAGE IN RUSSIA

ACCUSATION AGAINST POLES

STATEMENT BY SOVIET MINISTER (Rec. 7 p.m.) LONDON, May 8. Members of the Polish Embassy staff in Moscow had carried on espionage, said the Russian Deputy-Foreign-Min-ister (M. Vyshinsky) in a statement to the press in Moscow to-day. They had worked under the cloak of charitable activities, using Poles in need of assistance. "General Volikovski, former chief of the Polish military mission, played one of the most important parts in the cultivation and realisation of espionage in Russia,” he said. "The Polish first secretaries and other Embassy officials were exposed and deported from Russia. In addition, other Elpbassy representatives and staff members who took part in criminal activities against Russia were prosecuted under criminal law. Some were deported, and others were arraigned for trial and sentenced to various terms of deprivation of freedom, . “The Russian Commissariat for Foreign Affairs on May 31, 1942, warned the Polish Embassy concerning the facts of espionage work, but the warning proved insufficient.” M. Vyshinsky added that the Polish Relief Agency was afterwards liquidated. These facts, which related to the problems of aid to Polish families evacuated to Russia, were provided is reply to the recent-“false and hostile utterances of Polish representatives and the official press.” Use of Polish Troops

After giving details of the formation of the Polish Army in Russia. M. Vyshinsky said the question of the participation of Polish troops with the Russians in the struggle against Germany was first deleted from the order of the day by the Polish Government. M. Vyshinsky continued: “Allegations that the Russians hindered or are hindering the departure from Russia of Polish subjects are false. The Polish Government did not wish the dispatch of divisions for the Russian-Ger-man front and refused the use of Polish troops against the Germans on this front. It evaded the fulfilment of its own undertakings.” M. Vyshinsky said he was ready to* show newspapermen copies of documents relating to the questions dealt with in his statement. Asked whether Russia considered General Sikorski personally responsible for the recent events, M. Vyshinsky said: “The real answer is. ‘What part has General Sikorski played in the Polish Government?’ ” M. Vyshinsky refused to say what condition the Russian Government required for the resumption of relations with Poland, but he said the Polish Government had fallen into a German trap and was responsible for the rupture. Therefore it was up to the Polish Government to take concrete steps. Polish Reply ‘T.am afraid M. Vyshinsky’s statement will not help to produce the much-desired harmony among Russians and Poles or among the United Nations." said the Polish Foreign Minister (Count Raczynski) in London. “I limit myself to correcting matters of fact. First, the evacuation of the Polish Army from Russia was not intended by the Polish Government but should be attributed to the Soviet, because they suspended the recruitment of Poles in Russia and cut down their rations. Second, the Polish troops did not receive arms from the Soviet to enable them to participate in the common struggle, although the Polish Government desired that they should maintain the fight beside the Red Army. Third, about 1.500.000 Poles were deported to distant Russian provinces in 1940-41. Mortality among them has been very high and their, welfare continues to be the urgent duty of the Polish Government. “Fourth, the insinuation that high Polish officers and civil servants, who