GAOL de LUXE.

Wairarapa Age, 16 March 1933, Page 6

GAOL de LUXE.

MR MONKHOUSE’S EXPERIENCE IN MOSCOW. KINDLY TREATED BY OGPU . AGENTS. A POLITE DISMISSAL. MOSCOW, March 14. Mr. Monkhouse was detained in the Lubianka Prison, controlled by the Ogpu, and was allowed to keep his clothes with the exception of his tic and braces. He was confined' in a large cell in which there was a tabic and bed. Ogpu agents said to him after' interrogation, “Wa think you.are an honest, fellow.” They returned his papers, conducted him to the car, and shaking hands. His colleagues are still imprisoned. Mr. Monkhouse, in an interview, described the sabotage charge as ridiculous. The Ogpu had treated him with extraordinary politeness, but questioned him for several hours. Mr. Monkhouse in conferring with Sir Esmond Ovey regarding future steps. The Ambassador is interviewing the prisoners later to-day. The arrested' Russians inelude the Chief Engineer (M. Gartenstein) of All-Soviet Elfeetric Union, the engineer (M. Krashenikoff), manager of the Z'hilken (Moscow) electric station. Two Russians employed by Messrs. Viekers in the Ukraine left for Moscow on February 24 and have not been heard of since. Ten of the company’s British field engineers in the interior have hitherto failed to reply to telegraphed' inquiries from Moscow regarding their welfare.

MISTAKE MADE. STATEMENT BY BRITISH COMPANY. RUGBY, March 14. A statement issued by the Metropolitan Vickers Company says it is entirely unable to account for the arrests. Representations were made by the company to the Foreign Office and to the Russian Ambassador in London yesterday. The statement adds .that during the past ten years the Metropolitan Viekers Electrical Company has had continuous business dealings with the Russian Government, and has supplied large quantities of electrical machinery and other apparatus, and the dealings between the Soviet and the company have been satisfactory in every way. Throughout the long .period of its business dealings it has been the rigid rule of the company that every employee must concern himself solely with matters of trade and have nothing whatever to do with political and allied matters. Pending further developments the company is confident a mistake has been made and that there are no grounds whatever for the action of the authorities in Mbseow.—(British Official Wireless.) HOSTAGES AND EMBARGO. MILITANT DEMANDS BY “DAILY MAIL.” LONDON, March 14. The “Daily Mail” in a leader urges that if the Soviet is recalcitrant, Britain must apply pressure by arresting a multitude of Soviet subjects at present in Britain, including ’ Ogpu agents and deporting them, unless they are required as hostages for the British prisoners ’ safety. It also suggests' an embargo en the imports which the Soviet is still dumping into Britain and a termination of the experts credits, on whieh. Russia is certain to default sooner or later. If Britain makes it clear that she means business, the prisoners will be released with compensation and apologies. Nothing less is acceptable.