WHAT IS MR. BOSWELL DOING IN MOSCOW?

Chronicle (Levin), 10 July 1947, Page 5

WHAT IS MR. BOSWELL DOING IN MOSCOW?

-Press Association

By Telegraph-

WELLINGTON, July 9. "Thfi Honourab'le Alember is under liMsapprehension," said Mr. Fraser vhen replying to a question in Parliament by Afr. 'A. S. Sutherland who asked why it was considered necessary to wait three years before giving the public any information as to the aetivities of the New Zealand Alinister in Afoseow. ! Afr. Sutherland said the reason; why he asked for information coneerning the iegation in Moscow was because he had a eonstituent with land interests in Latvia and that eonstituent had written. to Mr. Boswell but no reply had been received from the Iegation after three years and a half. Subsequently a letter was written to the New Zealand High Commissioner in Canada (Alr, Thorn;, who said that the communication would be forwarded to the New Zealand Minister in AIoscow in the diplomatie bag. Still no word had been received from Afoseow. Surely, it was a job for that Alinister to attend to. , Alr. Fraser said he did not know by Afr. Sutherland 's question that he had a eonstituent with those interests but it was eertainly a job for the Iegation to do.- • Alr. Sutherland: It should not take 34 years to get an answer. Why didn't they answer the letter? Alr. Fraser, after referring to difficulties coneerning communications with Latvia,.. said inquirie's would be made. Alr. Langstone: They probably didn't receive the letter. •Government voiee: It's in the bag. Mr. Fraser went on to say that it was inCorrect that the Iegation was mainly concerned in a mutual exchange of books, films and culture and he ques.tioned whether, in spite of the Opposition 's protests, they would witlidraw the Iegation. They could not possibly aceept everything which appeared in the press without some question marks. In this case, however, he would ask for the full faets and inquiries would be 'pursued. Mr. W. A. Bodkin said the Opposition had been trying to find out what- Afr, Boswell was doing in Moscow but nothing had been published by the. Government to give that information. Mr, Bodkin said the Afoseow Iegation was the only one whose report had not been published. If the Government had any regard for its reputation it should. tell the people about the aetivities of its Minister to .Moseow. Mr. Algie: They -are looking for the chink in the iron curtain.