A FATAL LETTER

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 28 October 1924, Page 5

A FATAL LETTER

SOVIET’S DENIAL. INQUIRY WANTED. FOREIGN OFFICE ADAMANT. BY CABLE-PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. (Received Oct. 28, 10.50 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 27. Zinovieff has sent a message to the Trades Union Congress declaring that the letter alleged to be signed by him is a gross falsification. There was not and could not be Such a letter. He denounced it as clearly an election manoeuvre, and invites the Trades Union Congress to appoint a commission to visit Russia to investigate its authenticity. Notwithstanding Communist denials the British Foreign Office is entirely satisfied with the genuineness of the letter.

Radovsky sent a letter to the Foreign Office protesting that his embassy was not notified prior to publication, declaring that the letter was obviously a forgery, which should have en clear to the Foreign Office officials.

Conservative headquarters . to-day state that they are convinced that the Zinovieff correspondence will rally many waverers to the Conservative side. '

Liberal headquarters are of the opinion that there is grave peril of a reaction after such an exposure, and only Liberalism can save tbe nation. m . MOSCOW, Oct. 27. The Soviet’s reply to the British Note characterises the alleged Zinovieff letter as an impudent forgery, aiming at the destruction of the Anglo-Soviet treaty and the ruin of friendly AngloSoviet relations, which happily were beginning to improve. In view of the use of forgery of an official document, the Soviet Government insists on an adequate apology and the punishment of both private and official persons. It concludes by fully appreciating the serious consequences the forgery might have on both countries. The Soviet urgently decidedly offers to recognise an impartial arbitration court to establish the fact that the letter is a forgery. The Note opens by adhering to repeated declarations regarding the non-responsibility "of the Soviet Government for the act of the Communist Internationale, and" at present abstains from touching upon the form the tone of the Foreign Office Note has taken. (Received Oct. 28, 11.5 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 27. The Daily Herald insists that, Zinof vieff’s letter is an obvious forgery. The Herald’s Parliamentary correspondent points out that Foreign Office experts were similarly deceived in 1921, resulting in Curzon’s famous Note to Russia, dated September 7, which was afterwards discovered to be founded on forged documents supplied by German private detectives. The correspondent suggests that Zinovieff’s letter is probably the work of Russian counterrevolutionists, .obtained in Russia by the British secret service. (Received Oct. 28, 11.20 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 27. In view of the expected French recognition of the, Soviet, the press is devoting a great 'deal of space to the Zinovieff incident, suggesting it should make Herriot pause. ■> RIGA, Oct. 27. In connection with the celebration of the anniversary of the Communist outbreak in Hamburg last year, Zinovieff declared that the proletariat revolution is approching in Germany, despite all the Dawes, Eberts and Noskes. The Hamburg rising was a Communist dress rehearsal.—Reuter. LONDON, Oct. 27. Reports from many areas throughout the country suggest that Labourites who abhor revolution and supported the Government’s attitude towards Russia on economic grounds are profoundly disturbed over the Zinovieff revelations. ROME, Oct. 27. The publication of Zinovieff’s letter caused a sensation in Italy. Officials regard the Communist agitation in Britain, coinciding with increased activity in Italy and elsewhere in Europe, as symptoms of Moscow’s organised renewed attack on civilisation. Italian Bolshevists recently received large funds enabling the renewal of propaganda, which was dropped after Mussolini attained power. SENSATIONAL DISCLOSURES. LONDON, Oct. 25. The documents issued by the Foreign Office relative to the Communist plot against Britain (referred to in yesterday’s Star under the heading' of Red Invaders) —ai*e the sensation of the day, and are described as the most amazing ever published during a British Parliamentary election. It is realised everywhere that their effect on the elections will be momentous probably wiping out all other topics until polling dav. Since their publication, however, there are several developments which require clearing up/ The document from Russia bears three names at its foot, viz., Zinovieff (President of the Presidium), McManus (member of the Presidium), and •Runsinen (secretary). The Daily Herald (the Labour paper) says Arthur McManus, who is now in England, acted until recently as British representative on the Presidium of the executive committee of the Communist' International. The central committee of the Communist Party of Britain says the document is a forgery and no sn'di document has been received. Comrade McManus, who is iust back from Moscow, says he signed no such document. The very heading, “The Third Communist International,” , gives it away.