SOVIET OFFICIALS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22887, 16 November 1937, Page 10

SOVIET OFFICIALS

RECALLS TO RUSSIA

SOME FROM LONDON AMBASSADOR MAY LEAVE By Association —Copyrignt (Received'.November 10, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON. Nov. 15 The Daily Mail savs speculation is l'ifo regarding the future of officials of the Soviet Embassy who have just- been recalled from London to Russia, where the second secretary, M. Anton Schuster, has been for a fortnight. Those recalled are MM. Lev. Chikunski, naval attache, A. K. Sivkof, military attache, and Ivan Cherney,, air attache. The last two succeeded M. Putna, who after his recall died in gaol branded as a Trotzkyist. The Daily IWirror states that the Russian Ambassador, INT. Maisky, is expected to go to Leningrad from London next Friday. The paper connects M. Maiskv's recall and those of the attaches with M. Stalin's purge. It says M. Maisky might refuse to go but his daughter is living in Russia and it is thought that her safety will dictate his obedience to orders.

A message from Helsingfors says fears are entertained for the safety of the Soviet Minister to Finland, M. Eric Assmus, who went back to visit Russia, accompanied by his wife, earlier in tho year and failed to return, as expected, in October. It is believed that ho may be ft victim of M. Stalin's ptirjie.

The Soviet military attache at Helsingfors, Colonel Ivanoff, was also suddenly recalled to Moscow and has not been heard of since.

A despatch from Moscow states that Madame Paulina Zhemcliuzhina, wife of M. Molotoff, has been appointed Vice-Commissar of the Food Industry and will take part in meetings over which her husband presides.