BRITAIN ALLEGES SOVIET PRESSURE ON EMBASSY STAFF

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27090, 26 May 1949, Page 7

BRITAIN ALLEGES SOVIET PRESSURE ON EMBASSY STAFF

NZPA—Copyright

Rec. 9 p.m. LONDON. May 25.

Britain has accused the Soviet authorities of trying to influence the staff of the British Embassy in Moscow and placing obstacles in the way of the Embassy’s work, Moscow radio reported early to-day, A Soviet memorandum replying to the protest handed by the British Ambassador, Sir Maurice Peterson, to the Soviet Foreign Minister, Mr Andrei Vyshinsky, declared that allegations of persecution of the Embassy staff were “based on incorrect information and deprived of all foundation.” Britain alleged that Soviet citizens left their work, at the Embassy under pressure of Soviet organs, but the Russian reply termed this charge “ an impermissible attempt to interfere in mutual relations between Soviet organs and Soviet citizens.” The British protest, which also complained of the refusal of entry visas for British citizens in the diplomatic service with the British Embassy, declared, according to Moscow radio, that the Embassy would act in solutiqn of these questions “on the basis of mutuality.” The Soviet Foreign Ministry, claiming in its reply the right to refuse visas to persons considered unacceptable, declared it coyld not “ ignore the impermissible tone of the British memorandum and the threats contained in it to apply reprisals against staff members of the Russian Embassy in London. The British Government should be clear that such methods cannot be successful in relations with the Soviet Government,” concluded the message.