SOVIET ANGER ROUSED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19658, 9 June 1927, Page 11

SOVIET ANGER ROUSED.

| POLAND HELD TO BLAME. TALK OF WORLD HATRED, PROVOCATIVE ACTS ALLEGED. HINT OF FURTHER ACTION. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyrieht. (Received June 8, 5.5 p.m.) A. and N.2. MOSCOW. June 7. The deputy Commissar of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Litvinoff, to-day handed to Mr. Patek, Polish Minister to Russia, a strong Note protesting against the assassination of Mr. Voikoff. The Note described the murder as an unprecedented criminal act. It alleged that it was bound up in a whole series of acts which aimed at the destruction of the diplomatic representation of the Soviet abroad. Particular reference for inclusion m these alleged acts was made to the raids on Soviet buildings at Peking and in London, and to what was termed Britain's provocative diplomatic rupture. The Note said these acts had let loose the activity of terrorist groups who, in their powerless, blind hatred against the working classes had seized the weapon of political murderers. Further, the Note accused Poland of not having taken the necessary measures against "the criminal activities of counterrevolutionary terrorist organisations." The fact was recalled that the Soviet recently drew tho attention of Poland to the activities of the "White Guard Terrorists," and had repeatedly warned Poland against provocative criminal acts resulting from those activities. In conclusion, the Note said: "Poland cannot repudiate the responsibility for this crime. The Soviet Government reserves the right to revert to the matter when it has received exhaustive details of the assassination." COMMENT ON THE NOTE. CHILDISH INSINUATIONS. REAL ANXIETY AT WARSAW. (Received June 8. 11.15 p.m.) A. and NJZ. LONDON, June 8. The general opinion of the Russian Note to Poland about the murder of Mr. Voikoff as expressed in the London newspapers is that "the Reds are seeing red." In criticising the Note it is remarked that within a few hours of the crime it links it up with the raids on Soviet House, London, and the Soviet Embassy at Peking, and with the rupture of diplomatic relations by Britain. Every allowance is made for Russian indignation, but it is considered that Mr. Litvinoff goes too far he holds tho Polish Government . responsible for Kowerda's act. Moreover, it is considered childish to regard the crime as part of a plot to destroy the diplomatic representation of the Soviet abroad. Following Mr. Litvinoff s lead, the Russian paper Izvestia alleges that Mr. Voikoff was the victim of the situation which resulted from the rupture of relations between Britain and the Soviet. Naturally real anxiety prevails at Warsaw, where it is feared the Soviet will demand the extradition of Kowerda. To this it is stated Poland could not agree without a violation of the principle of the non-surrender of political offenders. The members of the Russian colony in Warsaw, including the Monarchists, repudiate any connection with Kowerda. They fear taht deplorable consequences will followBODY AT LEGATION. FRENCH REDS ON MURDER. BRITAIN'S POLICY BLAMED. (Received June 8, 11.50 p.m.) A. and N.Z.-Sun. LONDON, June 8. A message from Warsaw says the body of the murdered Soviet representative has beeii taken to the Russian Legation, and will be conveyed to Moscow to-mor-row. A Paris correspondent says the Communist newspapers in the French capital describe the murder as one of the fruits of Britain's policy.