ESCAPE TO ITALY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 41, 18 February 1938, Page 7

ESCAPE TO ITALY

MISSING SOVIET OFFICIAL FLED FROM BOLSHEVIK HORRORS [By Telegraph-Press Association—CopyiiglilJ Received Feb. 17, 9.50 p.m. ROME, Feb. 16. The Giornale d'ltalia announce that M. Butenko, who disappeared from the Soviet Legation in Bucharest, causing the Soviet Government to protest, against the passivity of the Rumanian authorities, is now in Rome whither he fled from Bolshevik horrors. M. Butenko declares that he was subjected to incessant watening by the Ogpu in Bucharest and that a trap was laid to kidnap him, so he lay in hiding till he escaped across the frontier. M. Butenko said: “A stranger arrived at the Legation on February 3. Next day a stranger, accompanied by two obvious Ogpu agents, asked me to accompany them on a motor ride outside the city. I realised they intended tc. 'take me for a ride,’ and therefore I decided to try to escape. I hid in the city until February 10, when 1 crossed the border to 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 said that his wife and little daughter ace in Leningrad hut were not allowed to join him in spite of repeated requests. “They probably have been attested by now,” he said. “God knows what will happen to them.” A message from Moscow says that officials describe M. Butenko's interview as a forgery or extracted by torture. An official ccn.muaique issued az Bucharest states that inquiries have established that M. Butenko was not the victim of any attempt against h’s life. He left Rumania entirely of his own free will.