VOIKQFF’S FUNERAL

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 13 June 1927, Page 9

VOIKQFF’S FUNERAL

ANTFBRITISH SPEECHES. SCENES IN MOSCOW. STRICT MILITARY -MEASURES. BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT Received I.lc p.m. to-day. LONDON, June 12. The “Daily Express’s” Moscow car respondent reports that violent antiBritish .speeches and most stringent precautions were the outstanding features of the funeral of VoikofF, which was carried out with greater pomp than any State funeral since Dzerjinsky’s. There was uneasy excitement all day. and military patrols cantered past the Polish Legation incessantly, while armed pickets were in all main centres. Military ct'eared Red Square completely. thrusting the public into side streets. The entire staff of the Polish Legation drove up in three motor cars, bearing enormous wreaths, in notable contrast to the meagre Soviet flowers, Moscow having decided not to send flowers, but to give the money “for our answer to Chamberlain.’ Rykoff, speaking over the open coffin, ' which was surrounded by three thousand troops, said. “The British breach with Russia made this murder possible. The Soviet holds data proving that England inspired and financed anarchist organisations on Polish soil. The murder marks a crisis. Me are obliged to retort with strict measures, ancl no hireling like Kowerda should succeed here.”

Litvinoff expressed the hope that the revolution could be defended without the use of the Red Army Bukharin declared: “The bourgeoisie are beginning to shoot at us, and may march against us with drums. Our slogan continues to be "Militant Communism.'

SOVIET 17EAIANPS ON POLAND. Received 1.50 p.m. to-day. AIOSCOW, June 12. The Soviet Note to Poland demands the punishment of all concerned in Voikoff’s assassination, Soviet representation at the trial, the dispersal of anti-Soviet organisations in Poland and the expulsion of members. The Note expresses satisfaction with Poland’s offer to compensate Airs. Voikoff, but considers _it incumbent on itself to care for his family, because Voikoff perished when 011 duty.