SOVIET WOOLBUYER’S SILENCE: LEGATION OFFICER’S COMMENT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22818, 13 December 1948, Page 6

SOVIET WOOLBUYER’S SILENCE: LEGATION OFFICER’S COMMENT

DOESN'T TALK ENGLISH!

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, Dec. 13. M. P. Iv. Ermoshin, officer in charge of the Russian Legation, Wellington, expressed astonishment and concern at the attitude of newspapers which stated that Russian visitors are not allowed to speak for publication without official permission.

•¥■ M. Ermoshin’s remarks were occasioned by an Auckland Press Association message referring to the arrival of M. S. Tscherbakov. who was described as “the first Russian woolbuyer to visit New Zealand.” M. Ermoshin said that M. Tscherbakov was not a wool-buyer. He was in New Zealand as an assistant to the Soviet commercial attache, M. W. P. Ourenev. But M. Tscherbakov knew about wool, said M. Ermoshin. Press Misapprehension “I don't know why there should be this publicity,” said M. Ermoshin. “The fact is that M. Tscherbakov didn’t refuse to be interviewed. He has less than a little English. Beyond 'yes’ and ‘no’ he cannot speak it at all! The newspapers must have been under a misapprehension.” M. Ermoshin suggested that a New Zealander who spoke no Russian would be equally surprised if he visited the Soviet Union and was accused by the papers there of a refusal to be interviewed. “Tescherbakov doesn’t speak English. It is not because he doesn’t want to speak.” said M. Ermoshin. An interviewer proposed a meeting with M. Tscherbakov and discussing the wool business with him through an interpreter. M. Ermoshin did not think there was any merit in that, at the outset of his mission in New Zealand. He thought an interview at the end of the mission would be much more valuable.

Requirements of Soviet The interviewer said that woolgrowers and wool agencies would be interested knowing the requirements of the Soviet Union in regard to quantities and types of wool intended to be bought here. M. Ermoshin replied that he did not think it usual for intending purchasers to give advance information. He was not aware that this was the practice of other woolbu.vers. M. Ermoshin said he had no advice that other Russian woolbuyers would be visiting New Zealand at present. He repeated that he could not understand why newspapers should suggest any secrecy in the visit or any refusal to talk for publication. “There must be a reason for the attitude of the newspapers,” he said.