RUSSIAN STAFF

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31836, 14 November 1968, Page 10

RUSSIAN STAFF

Request By Britain (N.Z.P. A. -Reuter—Copyright) LONDON, Nov. 12. The British Government yesterday asked the Soviet Embassy to curb the size of its staff, informed sources reported. The request was after a spy case last week in which a member of the Soviet Embassy was implicated. It was put to the Soviet Ambassador, Mr Mikhail Smirnovsky, during a meeting he had this afternoon with Sir Paul Gore-Booth, permanent under - secretary at the Foreign Office. A Foreign Office spokesman said Sir Paul Gore-Booth raised with Mr Smimovsky the size of the Soviet Embassy in London and drew his attention to activities of Embassy staff in the spy case. This was the case in which a Royal Air Force technician was sentenced to 21 years for passing secrets to the Russians. At the trial it was said that a Soviet diplomat named Alexander Borisenko had been involved. Mr Borisenko was recalled to Moscow before the trial. The Soviet Embassy in London has 60 diplomatic staff and 80 others. The British Embassy in Moscow has 40 diplomats and 50 others. It was the first time Britain has ever asked a foreign embassy to curb the size of its staff." The action was after press 'reports that diplomatic immunity was being used to cover, spying in Britain.