Soviet ships in Lyttelton

Press, 7 August 1985, Page 16

Soviet ships in Lyttelton

Sir,—l was shocked to hear that our friend, fourth largest trading partner and ally in two world wars, the Soviet Union has been accused by a Japanese newspaper of sending spy ships into Lyttelton. Surely this must be a “red herring” devised by some Imperialist lackey to spoil our close relationship with Soviet friends. To show how vicious antiSoviet propaganda has become, I quote Brian Freemantle, a former foreign editor of Britain’s “Daily Mail.” He says in his book on the K.G.B. “It has long been known that the Soviet trawler fleets are constructed entirely for spying, not fishing.” Captain Nikolai Fedorovich Artomov went so far as to tell the Committee on Un-American Activities that “the refrigerated holds of the trawlers were filled with fish before they left Russian ports.” Just because the Soviets have the world’s biggest intelligence service and have had spies expelled from every developed country, does not mean they will spy on friendly trusting people like us. Have the Japanese no faith in their fellow man?— Yours, etc., J. R. LOUDON, Kaiapoi. August 4, 1985.

Sir,—Anyone who doubts the report on Soviet spy ships should read “K.G.B. Today” by John Barron. In it he details the lengths the Russians will go to to further their goal of world domination. He explains the elaborate cover identities, such as press secretaries, shipping agents or fishermen, the K.G.B. gives agents to lend them credibility. Their aim at all times is to “disinform” their host countries on the intentions of the Soviet Union. It is Sergei Buranov who is laughable

in suggesting they do not seek to divide the United States and New Zealand. The K.G.B. are masters at forging press reports, and even State department documents to create friction between the United States and her allies. It is time we booted the Soviet Embassy and fishing fleet out of New Zealand once and for all.—Yours, etc., A. PULLAN. August 5, 1985.