STATE TRADING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 68, 22 March 1938, Page 7

STATE TRADING

EXPERIENCE IN RUSSIA WHOLESALE EMBEZZLEMENT [By Telegraph—Prose Association—Copyright] Received March 21, 8.48 p.m. LONDON, March 21. The Moscow correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says that the newspaper Pravda announces that 132,000 employees of State trading organisations have been charged with theft and embezzlement in connection with wrecking activities. New officials have been placed in control of State trading but no improvement can be detected in output. FURTHER ARRESTS RUSSIAN EMPLOYEES OF AMERICAN INTERESTS Received March 21, 10.30 p.m. LONDON, March 21. Valencina Smegirevskaya, a 20 year-old secretary in the Moscow oilice of the New York Times, ha:: been arrested by the Ogpu. This is the most recent of a series of arrests of Russians, which include employees at the American Embassy, says the Moscow correspondent of the Daily Telegraph. American newspapers and competent authorities specially authorised her to take notes at the recent trials on behalf of British and American correspondents. Nevertheless, she was take into custody four days before the trial ended. Other arrests include women secretaries at the American Chamber of Commerce and International News Service, and the legal adviser to the American Embassy.