SPY-RIDDEN RUSSIA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19011, 6 November 1923, Page 4

SPY-RIDDEN RUSSIA.

I WORKERS WATCHED. STORY OF A “STUPID” WAITER. Russian espionage of all foreigners is increasing in intensity, according to all the reports' brought me by returning visitors (writes the Morning Post’s correspondent from Warsaw). For that reason it would appear that the casual joy-rider in Russia who seeks to lecture England on the glories of the Soviet form of government deserves only as much attention as one has pepper ami salt with which to season his remarks. The chief of an American Relief Bureau in Russia, discussing this matter with me, remarked that he did not care how high or impressive was tho rank of the foreign visitor to Russia, each and every man, from the time of hia crossing the frontier, was under the closest supervision, and his every move and expression was reported direct to Moscow. ‘T know,” ■he said, “that in my case 1 was particularly careful to avoid anything which might hint at . political entanglements. I was seriously devoting -myself to humanitarian, activities, yet i never escaped this constant' watching. I am not surmising; I had it proved to me. I knew that my cook and three of my houro servants and my chauffeur were spies. I knew that my principal assistant was an unwilling part of the espionage machine. ■ “I had that proved to me by herself. She was a Russian "woman of good standing who sincerely worked with us. Indeed, sho almost ovenvorked herself, so one Saturday I suggested that, as I had to go on Sunday into the country on business, she should travel with me as interpreter. I said we would start at 9in the morning. Aftersome hesitation sho confessed that was too early Then -she haltingly explained that at 0 sho had to be at the bureau of the Secret Poliec to make her weekly report on what I had been doing. She further explained that on the previous Sunday they had detained her “for four hours, and when she protested at the questions they advised her that they were preparing a nice vacation for her in the prison camp at Archangel if she did not bring better information. They questioned her as to my exact routine, as to the letters I write, the people 1 spoke to. as to any casual comments I made on Soviet rule, and so on almost indefinitely. Another relief official said that he _hao the system brought to his attention in a peculiar wav. lie had at his hold a very r.lnpid waiter, -a. -Tew. who, strangely enough, denied his ability to speak even Gorman. He could only speak Russian, he said. “For two weeks hn stood behind my chair at meals, apparently trying to figure out what I wanted. Later I moved to another district, and a friend, newly arrived, came to visit me. ITo said he was in great hick, that the Soviet Foreign Office had given him their v“vy best- Interpreter, a man who spoke English like a native, and French and Gorman. I expressed a desire to see this paragon, and lie ushered him into the room. To my amazement he was the stupid waiter, a little better dressed, but the same man who for weeks had stood behind mv chair professing an ignorance of any language other than Russian, and before whom. I fern, I had talked wit l ' scum f.-eednm. The man was not at all abashed, 1 m was perfectly at ease.” Tte-cticnllv ell the mm in the American relief party had similar stories of exact happenings, and when T inquired as to whether it was possible for a man to go through quickly on Ids own and get a real view of Russia they smiled at mo at; mv trustfulness.