ORDERED FROM RUSSIA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26641, 11 December 1947, Page 7

ORDERED FROM RUSSIA

FRENCH REPATRIATION MISSION RECIPROCAL MEASURES LONDON, Dec. 9. In a Note to France to-day the Russian Government stated that it has ordered the French Repatriation Mission in Russia to leave immediately. Moscow radio announced that the Note also stated that Russia had resolved to terminate the trade talks with France. Within a few hours France retaliated. The French ' Government expelled the Russian Repatriation Mission from France, and the members will leave to-night. The Russian Note to France stated that a French charge of subversive activities against two members of the Soviet Repatriation Commission in France was “ a foul slander devoid of any foundations, and fabricated by the French Government to justify its arbitrary actions.” Reuter says the Soviet broke off the trade talks with France because of “the French Government’s hostile attitude to Russia.” France hoped to negotiate the shipment of 300,000 tons of Russian wheat in exchange for French industrial goods. The French have now withdrawn the visas for members of the mission.

The French Foreign Office spokesman said that Russia’s decision to break off the trade talks surprised the French Government. Russia had linked the trade talks with the FraneoRussian Repatriation Missions, which the French Government regarded as quite distinct. The Soviet Embassy in Paris, announcing the expulsion of the French Repatriation . Commission, said the Russian Government considered void the Russo-French Repatriation Agreement of June 26, 1945, because of the French decision to take over the Soviet repatriation camp at Beauregard, near Paris, last month. Moscow recalled its Repatriation Mission from France yesterday. The French Foreign Office spokesman said France decided'to expel the Russian Repatriation Mission because certain members ' were exercising activities which were endangering security, although they were not necessarily connected with espionage. The spokesman’ implied that the activities had something to do with the recent wave of French strikes and riots. He added that France took the initiative in requesting that the Repatriation Missions in France and Russia should end their activities because France considered repatriation questions should be handled through ordinary diplomatic channels. French security guards raided Beauregard camp on November 15 and discovered an arms cache. The French Government also expelled 19 Russian members of the organisation known as the Union of Soviet Citizens because they were interfering in French affairs.