BRITAIN DENIES SPY LINK WITH BULGAR CLERIC
(N.Z.P.A. — Reuter—Copyright.) (11 a.m.) LONDON, Feb. 21. The Foreign Office spokesman refuted the statement which the Bulgarian authorities attribute to the Rev. Massil Ziapkov, one of the 15 Bulgarian nonconformist Church leaders charged with espionage, that he acted as a spy for Britain. The spokesman added that a report from the British Legation in Sofia said that an investigation into the charges of improper communication between Ziapkov and members of the British Legation had proved them baseless. The charges seemed to be a further step in the attempt to isolate members of the British missions in “iron curtain” countries from contact with the people of those countries. Mr. Hector McNeil, Minister of State, told the House of Commons today that Britain has asked for special representation at the trial of the 15 Bulgarian pastors. He added that on February 13 Britain had asked Bulgaria on what charges these men were being detained and when they were to be released or tried. Bulgaria had sent no reply.
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Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22877, 22 February 1949, Page 7
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173BRITAIN DENIES SPY LINK WITH BULGAR CLERIC Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22877, 22 February 1949, Page 7
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