SOVIET CHARGES

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 401, 7 April 1937, Page 5

SOVIET CHARGES

DISMISSED COMMISSAR STATE FUNDS STOLEN Fit of Rage and Spite Led to Arrest. Press Association —Copyright. Received 10.5 a.m. Londlon, April 6. The Moscow’ correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says that the Commissar for Posts and Telegraphs, M. Grigorevich Yagoda, might never have been -arrested, owing to his special opportunities for covering up traces of his activity, had he not, from rage and spite, refused for several months to go to the office of the Commissar for Postn and Telegraphs, to which he was transferred' -as a partial disgrace. Later, under stern pressure, he went to the office, but only occasionally. A communique ir-sued by M. Kalin in, chairman of the Central Executive Committee of the (J.S.S.R., ordering the prosecution of M. Yagoda, refers to his aHe/jed crimes with the Russian word usually reserved for charges of mureer. theft, graft, or rape. The allegation? include the embezzlement of at hast £40.000 of State funds, and debauch3ry of the lowest forms. SUCCESSOR CHOSEN Press Association—Copyright. Received 11 a.m. London, April 6. The correspondent of the Times at Riga says that General Khalepsky has been appointed to succeed M. Yagoda. M. Yagoda’s deputy, M. Prokoviev, has been dismissed, and probably has been arrested.