MR MALENKOV IN LONDON

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27920, 17 March 1956, Page 9

MR MALENKOV IN LONDON

Security Blockade

On Arrival

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

Rec. 9 p.m.) LONDON, March 15. Mr Georgi Malenkov arrived in London today by air. Soon after Mr Malenkov reached

the Russian Embassy in Kensington with the Soviet Ambassador (Mr Jacob Malik) the Ambassador

left for No. 10 Downing street, with a message for the Prime Minister (Sir Anthony Eden). A Foreign Office spokesman said that Mr Malenkov’s message concerned the

visit to Britain on April 18 of the Soviet Prime Minister (Marshal Bulganin) and the first Secretary of the Soviet Communist Party (Mr Nikita Khrushchev).

At London airport, surrounded by Russian officials, with British police guarding the reception room reserved for important visitors, Mr Malenkov spoke in Russian of his “warm welcome to wonderful London.” He has come as Minister of Power Stations—the post to which he was appointed a year ago after resigning as Soviet Prime Minister. While in Britain he will head a delegation of Russian engineers, who will tour British power stations and atomic establishments during the next three weeks.

Mr Malenkov, speaking rather nervously in Russian from a typewritten script, said that the Soviet Union ‘ attached great importance” to the expansion of business and cultural relations with all countries.

He believed that the visit of himself and his colleagues would make for an extension of business ties and “further contribute to the consolidation of friendship between the British and Soviet peoples.” The airport was crowded with police, who are using Mr Malenkov’s visit as a rehearsal for the even greater security precautions that will be taken next month when Marshal Bulganin and Mr Khrushchev arrive by cruiser.

The precautions failed to prevent an anti-Russian demonstration, consisting of a loudspeaker van, \ following the procession of cars all the way from the airport to the Soviet Embassy. Owned by a Right-wing group, the League of Empire Loyalists, the van drove along with its loudspeakers blaring out propaganda against the Khrushchev-Bulganin visit. Placards on the van said: “Keep the red beasts out.” Outside the Russian Embassy it continued to broadcast such slogans as. “We don’t want murderers here,” and “Don’t shake hands with murder.”

Lord Citrine, chairman of the British Electricity Authority, which is sponsoring the visit, toasted Mr Malenkov, in vodka. Mr Malenkov drank red wine.

A Russian official speakin? to re-portei-s was very particular about this Mr Malenkov does not drink vodka Please get that right,” he said. Mr Malenkov will pay courtesy calls on Sir Anthony Eden, and the Foreign Secretary (Mr Selwyn Lloyd). His attitude and speech on arrival does suggest, however, that he intends to stick firmly to the subject of electeieal power and not politics in anything he says while in Britain. The exact times and dates of the Soviet visits in England and Scotland have not been announced for security reasons.

Mr Malenkov rested tonight at the Soviet Embassy. He had no engagements tonight. 6 s

Mr Malenkov Recites Burns In Russian

(R « C - 10.I 0 . pm) LONDON, March 15. Mr Malenkov startled his British hosts today by reciting to them—in Russian—the works of the Scottish Ploughman poet. Robert Burns. Mr Malenkov suddenly produced from his pocket a copy of Burns’s poems while talking at the Russian Emb ass y with Lord Citrine, chairman °f the British Electricity Authority. Saying how much he admired Scotland s national poet, he recited “A Mans a Man for a That,” which says: “Then let us pray that come it may. As come it will for a that— That man, O man the world o’er Shall Brithers be for a that”