“TERRIBLE WORLD DANGER”

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIV, Issue 20965, 18 February 1938, Page 9

“TERRIBLE WORLD DANGER”

SOVIET OFFICIAL’S REVELATION ESCAPE FROM DREADED SECRET POLICE POWERFUL ATTACK ON RED MENACE United Press Association— By Electric Telegraph—Copyright ROME, February 16. The “Giornale dTtalla” announces that M. Theodore Butneko, secretary of the Soviet Legation in Bucharest, is now in Rome. He fled from Bolshevik horrors. M. Butenko declares that he was subjected to incessant Ogpu watching in Bucharest. A trap was laid to kidnap him, so he lay in hiding until he escaped across the frontier. M. Butenko said that a stranger arrived at the Legation in Bucharest on February 3. The next day, the stranger, accompanied by two obvious Ogpu agents, asked him to acompany them on a motor ride outside the city. “I realised that they intended to ‘take me for a ride’ therefore I decided to try to escape and hid in the city until February 10, when I crossed the border to Italy. In Rome I have been under the protection of the Fascist police. I shall devote all my strength in future to fighting the terrible world danger of Communism.” M. Butenko added that his wife and little daughter are in Leningrad, but were not allowed to join him, in spite of repeated requests. “They are probably arrested by now,” he said. “God knows what will happen to them.” Conflicting Statement A message from Moscow says that officials describe Butenko’s interview as a forgery or extracted by torture. An official communique issued at Bucharest states that inquiries have established that Butenko was not the victim of any attempt against his life. He left Rumania entirely of his own free will. SOVIET WORLD APPEAL REJECTED IN UNITED STATES United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright NEW YORK, February 16. The American Federation of Labour has rejected M. Stalin’s appeal to organised labour throughout the world to aid the Soviet in the event of war. A spokesman said: “The Soviet deserves no more support than Hitler or Mussolini.’’ It was decided to inform the International Federation of Trades Unions that the American Federation of Labour would withdraw if Soviet Unions were admitted to membership. MERCILESS SOVIET PERSECUTION OF TROTSKY’S FAMILY United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright PARIS, February 16. Leon Trotsky, aged 32, the eldest son of the exiled Bolshevik leader died after an operation. Trotsky Senr. had two sons and two daughters. One daughter died in a Soviet prison and the other committed suicide in Berlin. The youngest son, an engineer, was arrested in Russia last year on a charge of criminal negligence in connection with his work at a machine plant in Krasnoyarsk. He is reported to be ill in prison. BRITAIN PROTESTS TO SOVIET OFFICIAL DISCOURTESY ALLEGED “DETRIMENTAL TO RELATIONS” United Press Association—By Electric Teleeranh —Copvrlght LONDON, February 16. Britain has notified the Soviet of her decision to close the Leningrad Consulate immediately arrangements are completed. The Moscow correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” states that the British decision is not the result of an amicable agreement; but the attitude of the Soviet Government made negotiations impossible. The British Note indicates that the Government regards the Soviet’s attitude as “unjustifiable, discourteous and detrimental to good relations." The Soviet Government’s clear aim is to get rid of all resident foreign officials outside of Moscow.