SOVIET ENVOY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23616, 28 March 1940, Page 11

SOVIET ENVOY

RECALL TO MOSCOW REQUEST BY FRANCE INDISCREET TELEGRAM By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received March 27, 7.48 p.m.) LONDON, March 27 The Moscow radio stated to-day that the Soviet Ambassador to Paris, M. .Jakob Souritz, had been recalled to Moscow following a demand by the French Government, owing to a telegram which he addressed to Stalin on the occasion of the Russo-Finnish peace,' and to which the French objected as an intrusion upon France's internal political life. A message from Paris says the French Charge d'Affaires in Moscow informed the Russian Premier and Foreign Minister, JVlolotoff, on March 19 that France regarded certain sentences in

the telegram as tactless toward the French Government, including: "Owing to the Soviet Government's wisdom and the Red Army's bravery, the plans of the British and French warmongers to extend the Avar to north-east Europe have again suffered defeat. Soviet Russia remains an impregnable fortress, against which all the enemies of Socialism will be shattered."

Although the French censorship did not transmit the telegram, the' French Government informed M. Souritz that he was no longer persona grata and expressed the desire for his recall. The Soviet replied on March 26 that it did not consider the French Government's action justified, as the telegram did not mention the French Government. Nevertheless, as M. Souritz was no longer persona grata, he would be recalled.

The Soviet Embassy in Paris has confirmed that M. Souritz has been recalled to Moscow. STRONG CRITICISM MINISTER'S ACTIONS ALLEGED MISTAKES i LONDON, March 20 "We cannot afford a Minister who admits carelessness in handling our affairs." says the Daily Mail in demanding that Dr. Leslie Burgin, Minister of Supply, should resign. Replying to a statement in the House of Commons by Mr. Herbert Morrison (Labum*) that Captain C. R. Ullman had one of Dr. Burgin's visiting cards which bore a statement that he should have access to the Minister at all times, Dr. Burgin said he had given Captain Ullman his card for admission to an exhibition. "Perhaps I am careless." he added, "but I have known the man for many years." The Daily Mail says: "Dr. Burgin has made too many mistakes and has been unfortunate in his friends and subordinates." Referring to accusations against Sir Charles Allom, founder of White, Allom and Company, of London, Montreal and New York, munitions makers, Mr. Morrison read a draft agreement stipulating a commission of from 2£- to 10 per cent on contracts resulting from introductions to Government departments. Dr. Burgin replied that legal advice had shown that this was no offence under the existing law. Sir Charles told a representative of the Evening News that the charge was an "abject, callous and careless effort to make capital out of decent business habits." TURKISH READINESS POWER FOR MOBILISATION LONDON, March 27 Turkey once again has shown her determination to be ready for any emergency that might arise, state messages from Ankara. A Dili has been drafted to give the Turkish Government power to order general mobilisation whenever it may be considered necessary.