ARREST OF MRS OLLIER

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27470, 2 October 1954, Page 7

ARREST OF MRS OLLIER

Further Protest By Dr. Evatt (Rec. 11.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, October 1. The Leader of tlie Federal Opposition (Dr. Evatt) tonight issued a statement saying that he had conclusive proof that Mrs R. M. Ollier, the former Second Secretary of the French Embassy in Canberra, had been at another town about five hours away by road at a time when she was alleged to have been meeting Vladimir Petrov at Cooma (New South Wales).

He also said that Petrov, following a motoring accident, had told a police officer that he had not visited Cooma at the time in question. Dr. Evatt’s statement said: “Following previous protests by Senator Dorothy Tangney and myself, I am sending a further message in relation to Mrs Ollier to the Prime Minister of France and to Mr Bidault, with whom I was associated in United Nations’ work.

“On September 4 I made a public statement criticising the action of the French Ambassador in Australia (Mr Roche) and Mr Casey in taking action vzhich resulted in Mrs Ollier, of the French Embassy, being suddenly ordered from Australia to Noumea in April last. The French Ambassador made, through the Secretariat of the Petrov Commission, a statement imputing subversive and unpatriotic conduct to. Mrs Ollier.

“On September 5 Senator Tangney, a personal friend of Mrs Ollier, protested against the procedures by which imputations of espionage or subversion were made against Mrs Ollier by Petrov during a secret hearing while she was absent in Noumea and had no opportunity whatever of answering the charges.

“In reply to my messages both the Prime Minister of France and Mr Bidault expressed their personal interest in the affair. Since then I have forwarded two messages to Mrs Ollier aboard the ship Tahitien, en route to France from Noumea. I have also communicated with the master of the vessel to ensure delivery of the messages.

“As no reply was received from the master of the ship or from Mrs Ollier it would appear likely that Mrs Ollier has been held incommunicado. “Determined to ascertain the true facts, so far as we could do so, Senator Tangney and I have paid special attention to the sworn evidence of Petrov that on December 24 last he and Mrs Ollier had coffee together at a restaurant in Cooma, where the espionage matters were discussed.’’ “Conclusive Proof’

“Senator Tangney and I have received conclusive proof that, on this very day, Mrs Ollier arrived for her Christmas holidays at Eden, New South Wales, at 12.30 p.m., the distance by road between Cooma and Eden being about five hours. If this is true, any suggestion that Mrs Ollier met Petrov at Cooma at about noon is completely alse. “But the matter goes further. Apparently Petrov and his Skoda motorcar figured in a serious accident only a few miles from Canberra on the same Christmas Eve, early in the morning. A Canberra police officer who investigated the accident has stated that Petrov’s car was completely burnt out after having turned over, that he interviewed Petrov on December 25 or 26, that Petrov showed, him extensive and very serious bruisings on his body from the accident, and that Petrov informed the officer that he, Petrov, had intended to go to Cooma for fishing but, in fact, had not visited Cooma at all.

“It seems clear, therefore, that Petrov never met Mrs Ollier in Cooma as alleged by him, and that this part of the charge by Petrov falls to the ground. “The matter is of great importance, and I have suggested that the substance of this statement be forwarded to Mrs Oilier on the ship through the

agency of the French Government.” Attached to Dr. Evatt’s announcement was a statement received by Senator Tangney and attributed to a hotel proprietor of Eden. This said that Mrs Ollier booked in at the hotel at 12.30 p.m., in time for lunch on Christmas Eve, 1953, and remained till January 2, 1952. It said that at no time during this period was she absent from any meal.