RED SCARE IN U.S.

Chronicle (Levin), 11 August 1948, Page 5

RED SCARE IN U.S.

Soviet Oflicials Not Liking kvestigations Received, Tuesday, 7 p.m. . WASHINGTON, August 9. The Soviet -Ambassador, Mr. Alexander Panyushkxn, in a note to the State Departnient tonight, aceused United -States . of trying to terrorise Russian eitizens in America and demanded the surrender to the Russian Consulate, New York, of Mikhail Samarin, a Russian schoolteacher who sought the protection of the F.B.l. yesterday. Mr. Panyushkin had a 30- , minute talk with the Under-Secre-tary, Mr. Robert Lovett, who told him the Russian aceusations .were based on conflicting newspaper reports not aecepted by the Government. Mr. Panyushkin alleged that Samarin and Mrs. Oksana Stepanovna, another Russian teaeher, were kidnapped by the Tolstoy Fonndation, a White Russian organisation in New York State, headed by Countess Tolstoy. He said the foundation was systematically lerrorising Sox'iet eitizens to prevent them returning to Russia and the American authorities were implieated in "the plot. " He demanded that the Soviet Consul-.General at least be permitted to see Samarin. The State Department said Alr. Panyushkin told Mr. Lovett that the alleged abductions were a violation of ihe Roosevelt-Litvinov agreement of 1933, when Russfa agreed to dissolve the Comintern and both Governments said they would not permit the organisation in their territory of groups hostile to the other Government. Mr. Lovett " brushed aside" this argument. Mr. Panyushkin added that Samarin had been wounded in the head during the war and he would not be responsible for Samarin 's statements. Mr. Lovettt said steps would be taken if any American cwas found guiJt.v of criminal action. Meanwhile, Alexander Koral, British born mystery witness who is deseribed as "the man able to eraek open the whole spy case," refused today to tell the House Un-Ameriean Activities Committee, if he were a Communist or knbw Elizabeth Bentley, on the grounds that he might ineriminate and degrade himself. Koral refused to coiifirm or deny a charge by a committee member that he had alreadj' nigned a statement confessing membership of a Soviet spy ring and dcclined to answer most of the committee 's questions. Before Koral gave evidence the Justice Department stated he testilied. at considerable length before a New York grand jury which recently indix ted twelve Communist leaders of charges that thev planned to overthrow the. Government. Another witness, Vietor PerJo, a fonner official of the War Production Board, denied Aliss Bentle.y's allegations that he gave her secrct aircraft production figures but refused to say if iie were a Communist or knew Miss Bentley. The committee chairman, Representative' "Karl Mundt, said subpoenas would be issued for Alikhail Samarin and his wife Klavida. The committee also want testiniony from Mrs. Kosenkiifa whom the Soviet Consul-General, I Mr. Lomakin, said he rescued from the White Russians. In New York today, Mr. Lomakin said: "Mrs. Kosenlcina absolutely won't be allowed to lestify before the committee. Tliat is out ( f the question. She is a -Soviet citizen." He said ]\Irs. Ivosenkina would go to Russia in September. Deputy Chief Inspector Alullins, of the New York Detective Bureau, said after a three-quarter hour with Alr. Lomakin: "We are starting from scratch. We are goiug to clieck every person and thing connected with the Samarin ease. " Countess Tolstoy, who is an American citizen, said the Tolstoy Foundation during the last two years had helped two Russian sailors who did not want to return to Russia to escape to Paraguav. She added that the sailors went to her New York office while their ships were in New York, and told her the life in Russia was unbearable. After the ships had sailed she contacted the immigration officials and Paraguayan visas were obtained for the sailors who were now working and happy. Tlie Countess emphasised that these were isolated incidents. She said Mr. Panyushkin hs allegations that 1 the Tolstoy Foundation was a criminal conspiraey were "nousensical , lies. "