SPY RING CASE

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 March 1946, Page 7

SPY RING CASE

AGENTS FOR RUSSIA CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER’S VIEWS SERIOUS SITUATION OTTAWA, March 18. “As serious a situation as ever existed in Canada” was how the Soviet spy ring was described by the Canadian Prime Minister (Mr Mackenzie King) when he spoke to the Canadian House of Commons. He said the Russian cypher clerk, Mr Ivor Gozenko, had told Canadian officials that Russia was using Canada as a base for espionage operations against Britain and America and that a fifth column was being established in Canada. A number of those accused of participation in the spy ring and now out on bail were in the packed public galleries of the House of Commons. Mr Mackenzie King said he was prepared to take full responsibility for what was being done. The Government could not ignore the fact that there were in the Civil Service people giving secret information to a foreign Power. He felt it his duty to inform the British and American Governments what was happening and also what Canada planned to do. He visited President Truman in Washington before going to the United Kingdom, where Mr Attlee was informed of the situation.

No Hasty Judgments Mr Mackenzie King said he thought at one time of going personally to Russia. .The information he had about Mr Stalin personally led him to believe that Mr Stalin would not countenance what had been taking place. He decided, however, that the documents’ authenticity should be proved first and that, because Canadian civil servants were concerned, Canada should clear her own house first. Mr Mackenzie King said that the Russians’ heroism and sacrifice would never be forgotten by Canadians. Nothing would be allowed to interfere with the admiration and friendship stemming from Russia’s war record. He hoped members would be most careful not to judge any country or individual until all the facts were known. He was sure the Russian people were as anxious as the Canadians for friendship. What had happened had resulted from the actions of a few men who had gained some power. These actions would not be countenanced by the Russian Government or people. ' Mr Mackenzie King recalled that in his statement announcing the investigation he did not name Russia but informed the Soviet Embassy that its Government was involved. It was the Soviet itself which first linked that country with the inquiry by admitting that its military attache was involved. . “Some may feel we ought, to sever relations with Russia and ask the Soviet Embassy to withdraw from Canada,” he said. “I hope this stand will not be taken by anyone m a responsible position. The matter should not be judged until all the circumstances are known. It is possible things were going on in the Embassy of which the Ambassador was ignorant. I hope and pray for the time when the air is cleared and relations continue on a sound asis.” Mr Mackenzie King said he was sure that as a result of the inquiry there would ultimately be greater confidence between Russia and Canada,

Russians' Surprise. Mr Mackenzie King, after describing how Mr Gozenko sought Canadian officials’ protection and handed over documents, said he was under a serious handicap in making a tun statement because the matter was sub iudice. He revealed that Mr Gozenko was previously a Soviet secret service officer. After studying the documents, Mr Mackenzie King said he finally believed Mr Gozenko s story that he had been most surprised to find how Canadians lived and by tieelections, and had made up his mind that he owed it to the people o Canada and Russia to disclose, the snv ring condition. Mr Mackenzie King read from the Royal Commission’s report a list oi subjects on which the Soviet desired h e wis h e d. to explain why the order-in-council authorising the" detention of . persons was passed on October 6, 1945, and not published until last month. A most trusted Government employee had S°no London and was to . e Q s . t^ bl T l f sh f , o s ac t tact” on October 7, 1945. If contact had been made it would have been necessary to take people into deten tion in Canada as well as inLondon Contact was not made, however, pos sibly due to the fact that it was then known that much information was in the Canadian Governments hands When the contact was not madei the order-in-council "was held in abey Commission’s !nc iuiry. Mr Mackenzie King said that b - fore anyone was apprehended the Commission sat for a week quesjhoning Mr Gozenko and studying t documents he produced. with the knowledge available there would have been loud criticism if the Minu h e a r d°not IS acTed^n^tb U e S advice and ordered the ap P. r^ e g™£ of those it wished to question. Some criticism was being heard at.present, but much would not be mad L r { ia py facts were known or only partiany kl The Government had taken every posible step to protect the persons involved until it oul( j that they were involved and would face charges.