NEW NAVAL BASE AT LENINGRAD

Southland Times, Issue 23436, 17 February 1938, Page 5

NEW NAVAL BASE AT LENINGRAD

Foreigners Ordered To Leave City BRITISH CONSULATE TO BE CLOSED (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received February 16, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, February 15. Foreigners have been ordered to quit Leningrad, which will be converted into an impregnable fortress and naval base, states the Moscow correspondent of the Leningrad newspaper Svensaka Pressen. Ten thousand political prisoners are reported to have arrived to start construction. Britain has notified the Soviet of her decision to close her consulate at Leningrad immediately arrangements have been completed. The Moscow correspondent of The Daily Telegraph says that Britain’s decision will not result in an amicable agreement, but the attitude of the Soviet Government made negotiations impossible. The British Note indicates that the Government regards the Soviet attitude as unjustifiable, discourteous and detrimental to good relations. The Soviet’s clear aim is to get rid of all resident foreign officials outside Moscow, says the correspondent.

Referring to the closure of the British consulate at Leningrad, the diplomatic correspondent of The Daily Herald said that Leningrad, which was being converted into a great secret fortified naval dock yard and arsenal, would become a closed zone. No foreigners would be permitted to remain, and crews of foreign ships would be allowed on shore only in a limited area. New ship yards were being constructed capable of building and repairing the largest capital ships. The immediate building programme included three 35,000-ton battleships with 16in guns. On January 24 the Moscow correspondent of The Daily Telegraph said that as a retort to Russia’s demand for the closure of the British Consulate at Leningrad, Britain had closed the consulate branch at Moscow. Although hitherto there was no British Consul at Moscow, visas were issued and other consular duties assisting the Soviet, but of little interest to the British Government, were performed by a section of the Embassy. The doorplate was removed from this section on January 23. From then on Soviet officials under orders to travel to England must go 400 miles to Leningrad to obtain visas. This move reminded the Soviet that the consular parity demanded already existed.