SOVIET ACCUSATIONS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 13 June 1927, Page 5

SOVIET ACCUSATIONS

'FANTASTIC AND UTTERLY WITH

OUT FOUNDATION"

LONDON, 12th June. "Fantastic and utterly without foundation" is how Mr Hodgson describes the Soviet's accusations that the British mission employed the uctims just executed by the Soviet Government's orders. Equally fantastic are other allegations of illicit practises emanating from Moscow, Tvhicli Mr Hodgson declares cannot bo allowed to go unchallenged. He refers to Rykoff's recent quotation from a letter Mr Preston wrote to Mr Jerram, a British missioner in Moscow, regarding trade in chemicals, in which the writer said he feared that the Russians wore making inquiries which exposed them to the risk of being hanged, drawn, and quartered for spying. Mr Hodgson asks: "Were Preston's apprehensions justified?" and adds: "Rykoff's statements show they were, because he mentioned the cases of Peshkoff and Filin, who were shot for supplying military information to the British missioner Charnock." Mr Hodgson points out that Peshkoff was never an officer in Kolehak's army as Rykofi declared, but was a naval officer. When Mr Hodgson arrived at Moscow in 1921 Peshkoff, who was an old acquaintance, was placed in communication with him by a, woman named Dahl, a secret agent of the police, after which Peshkoff was emploved by the Canadian Pacific Railway at Moscow. Afterwards he was arrested with his wife and others on a charge of organising a counterrevolution in Siberia under Mr Hodgson's instructions. He applied to Kara Khan whose investigations showed the charge to be a mare's nest. Peshkolt md others were liberated, and he was re-employed by the Canadian Pacific but was arrested again in 1925 on the old charge, with friends for whom he had found employment. Mr Hodgson comments: "It stands to reason that after the Dahl incident Peshkoff was not likely to act, as a spy It was also most unlikely that 1 should apply to him for information."

SO-CALLED CONFESSIONS

OPEN TO GRAVEST DISTRUST

"The case of Film is. even more fantastic." slates Mr Hodgson. "He was n Red Army officer whose wife bad been a childhood friend of Mrs Charnock, for which reason Cliarnock was very careful to avoid dealings with Filin, especially, as his position enabled him to procure information. The charge on which Filin was executed is only now revealed."

Mr Hodgson, referring to those executed, savs Chavnock did not know Lytcheff or 'Koropanko. Mr Hodgson knew Vladimir EvreinofT. employed in a State hank at Moscow, slightly, but. did not encourage relations as EvreinolT was formerly an Imperial diplomat in Teheran and therefore might bo suspected.

Mr Hodgson adds that so-called confessions of those arrested must be treated, with the gravest distrust, assecret police habitually are endeavouring to wring admissions from tho victims by promising release if they sign dictated statements. Similarly, the police employ the most abominable measures to secure agents; for example. Louise Koch, a maid servant at the British mission, was threatened with life imprisonment unless she informed against Mr Hodgson. She was also threatened with death if she revealed the fact that she had been approached. Accordingly, information supplied by agents recruited in this manner was entirely valueless.

ANOTHER MURDER REPORTED

MOSCOW. 12th June

It is reported that Turov. formerly president of the Soviet, trade mission to Merlin, was murdered at Bitza station, on the Moscow to Kursk railway.

The Soviet Note to Poland demands the punishment of all concerned in Voikolf'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 Mrs VoikofT, but considers incumbent on the Soviet, itself the care of his family because VoikofT perished when on duty.