MINISTER IN RUSSIA

Evening Star, Issue 25849, 20 July 1946, Page 9

MINISTER IN RUSSIA

OPPOSITION CRITICAL MANY VALUABLE DESPATCHES, SAYS PREMIER (Special.) WELLINGTON, July 19. " The New Zealand Minister in Moscow has sent many most valuable despatches dealing with, all phases of the economic and social life of Russia, but I know of nothing which could be. described as. disclosures," declared the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, in tho House to-day, answering the question by Mr Gbosman (Nat., Waikato) as to whether New Zealand's Minister,, Mr Boswell, had sent any information similar to that recently disclosed by the former Australian' Minister to Moscow, Mr Maloney. " As is the practice in all nations, diplomatic correspondence 'is for the information of the Government, not for general dissemination. -If much of the information obtained through diplomatic channels was made generally available it would be impossible to maintain a friendly diplomatic relationship with any country. If the ocouomic conditions prevailing in any one of the United Nations which conjointly saved the world from continuation of the horrors of Nazism and Fascism were made the subject of propaganda, the difficulties, already so very great, of promoting friendship among those nations would be greatly increased." , Mr A. S. Sutherland (Nat., Hauraki) described the Prime Minister's reply as evasive. "If Mr Bbswell nas sent so many valuable despatches, when are'we going to have them before the House?" he asked. " What is the object, of having- a Minister there? "\ asked, Mr Goosman. "Along with all other taxpayers, I help to pay for him, and I ani entitled, to know t what he is doing.'' ■.', '■•.,'..,: ff the Minister was concerned with trade, added Mr Goosman, he would like to point out that the only imports were paper, probably literature, valued at £142 10s, and there had been nothing exported by New Zealand' to Russia. . :■*-,