ASSASSINATION

Southland Times, Issue 20200, 10 June 1927, Page 7

ASSASSINATION

SOVIET NOTE . ALARM IN POLISH CIRCLES ARREST OF RUSSIAN MONARCHISTS (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Rec. 7 p.m.) Warsaw, June 9. M. Litvinoff’s Note has caused a painful sensation in Poland, nevertheless the Government will not be deflected from its normal course. It is understood that it will reply emphatically, disclaiming responsibility for the crime. The police are acting on the supposition that the murder ia the result of a plot and have arrested 30 Russian Monarchists at Vilda and seven at Warsaw. The arrests include a number of ex-Tsarist generals and General Gorlow, representative of the Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevitch. It is not decided yet whether Kowerda will be tried by an ordinary court which can award a maximum sentence of 15 years, or by court martial, which can sentence to death, with which alone it is believed that Russia will be satisfied. The Polish Legation at Moscow is guarded by cavalry patrols. A great funeral is being arranged with a mass parade in the Red Square in front of Lenin’s tomb. The officials of the Commissariat of Foreign Affairs have been ordered to observe mourning for a fortnight. The city is flying black bordered red flags.—A. and N.Z. POLISH PRESS CONDEMNS MURDER. (Rec. 9.5 p.m.) Warsaw, June 9. Kowerda has lately been a pupil of the Russian Gymnasium at Vilda where he was supported by a charitable organisation. He came to Warsaw four days ago, and applied to the Soviet Legation for a Russian visa, which was refused. It is believed that this was a ruse to meet Voikoff, whom he had already determined to kill. Voikoff was proceeding to Russia on leave. Kowerda hovered in the vicinity of the Legation and finally followed the Minister to the station. Kowerda declares that he is a member of no party. He says that he shot for a National Russia against an International. The whole Polish Press expresses indignation at the crime. It is disclosed that Poland recently offered Voikoff special police protection, which was refused. —A. and N.Z. TROUBLES PILING ON POLAND. (Rec. 9.5 p.m.) London, June 9. The Times Riga correspondent reports that Russo-Polish relations have been further complicated by an incident near Minsk, where a White Russian rescue party attacked a posse of Cheka agents motoring to Minsk, and liberated their prisoner, a polish intelligence officer, Lieut. Jani, who had been captured near the frontier suspected of espionage. A brisk fight resulted in the death of M. Opansky, commanding the local Cheka troops, and also that of the driver.—Times. ADVICE TO RESTRICT EXCITEMENT. GERMANY SUGGESTS MODERATION. (Rec. 7.5 p.m.) Berlin, Juue 9. Importance is attached to a three hours’ conversation in which it is believed that Herr.Stressemann impressed on M. Tchitcherin the importance of restricting excitement over the murder.—A. and N.Z. PARIS CONDEMNS RUSSIAN ATTITUDE (Rec. 7.5 p.m.) Paris, June 9. Opinion here is much the same as in Britain. While the crime is severely condemned, attempts of the Soviet Government to make political capital out of it are even more severely deprecated.—A. and N.Z. SOVIET ATTACK ON BRITAIN. (Rec. 12.48 a.m.) Moscow, June 9. An amazing official document accuses Britain, and other foreign Powers of persistent terrorism, attacks, and anti-Soviet propaganda. “It is evident that Britain, while rapidly preparing for war is simultaneously striving to prevent the peaceful labours of the Russian peoples. The Government calls on the toiling masses to protect the country’s industries against foreign spies, incendiaries and murderers. With your support, we will clear out our enemies.” It is alleged that the spy Steinberg, shot on the frontier in 1925, was really a British Air Force captain with personal instructions from Mr Winston Churchill. Another charge mentions that White, a British consular representative with a Moscow connection was the instigator of the Kremlin explosions.—A. and N.Z.