MRS OLLIER INQUIRY

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27501, 8 November 1954, Page 11

MRS OLLIER INQUIRY

Investigations In Australia (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 9 pm.) PARIS, November 6. The inquiry into alleged treason by Mrs Rose-Marie Ollier, -the former secretary at the French Embassy in Canberra, marked time today pending further investigations about her relations with Russian friends in Australia.

Mrs Ollier is in a Paris women’s prison, charged with an offence against the external security of the State. During interrogations earlier this week she told Major Pierre Giraud, the military Magistrate, that she believed friendly relations with members of the Soviet Embassy in Canberra, would help to ease the tension between East and West The French Foreign Office informed the Magistrate on Thursday it considered no blame should be attached to. Mrs Ollier in connexion with the ship Radnor which was carrying arms from New Zealand to Indo-China. She told Major Giraud she talked about the ship to Russian friends, but everything about the Radnor was common knowledge and published in the Australian press. Quarters close to the Ministry of Justice believe that if Mrs Ollier was cleared of all blame in connexion with the Radnor, the treason charge would be dropped. They said a lesser charge of failing to inform the authorities of foreign spy activities might then be brought against her. Mrs Ollier contends, however, that it is common knowledge that Soviet diplomats abroad work as intelligence agents, and she cannot be accused of withholding information. She has not asked for provisional liberty on bail, hoping that the present inquiry would clear her completely.