Evening star., 1939-08-23
0umansky, Recalled
Ambassador 10 j. :,
Purged' by Soviet
Failure to Block
Krivitsky Articles
Given as Reason
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN,

SoA<S LIVE DnoV4Ns
Constantine Oumansky who
served as Soviet Ambassador in
Washington for less than a month,
has been 'purged" by his govern
ment, according to reliable infor-
nation received in Washington.
Mr.. Oumansky incurred the wrath
OF his government because he was
not able. as he is reported to have
promised the Moscow foreign Of
flee, to prevent publication of Gen.
w. G. Krivitsky's articles, disclos-
ing Stains policies, in the Satur-
day Evening Post.
The form of the "purging," 1t is
believed, is permanent withdrawal
Of the young diplomat from his
Washington post and his eventual
assignment to some minor job.
The recent departure of another
member of the diplomatic staff of
the Soviet Embassy. Col. Ivan Leon
tievish Okunev. Military Attache,
came to light today. COL Okunev
has been recalled to Moscow and de-
parted week ago. He had occupied
his American post two years. His
successor has not yet been desig-
mated.
When the news of the intended
publication of the Krivitsky articles
reached Moscow, Mr.. Oumansky is
reported to have received instruc-
tions to do "everything in his power"
to prevent their appearing in print.
1t is reported that the former Soviet
general, through a third party, was
promised an important sum of
money to keep silent He refused.
He also was threatened, according
to the same reports.
The former chief of the Soviet
military intelligence in Europe re-
piled, it is said, that he felt secure
in the United States, where he was
out Of reach Of the Soviet purging
machinery.
Former Press Chief.
Mr.. Oumansky, however, is report
ed to have promised definitely that
he knew how to handle the situation.
For several years preceding his
appointment as counselor of the So
Wet Embassy here Mr.. Oumansky
had been chief of the Russian Press
Bureau and had quite few friends
in the American newspaper world.
Besides consulting with the man.
agement of the magazine which
published the Krivitsky series, he
also asked unofficial advice from the
State Department as to how to
prevent publication of the articles.
He was told, like other foreign rep
resentatives, that in the United
States the press was free and the
State Department could not talk
even informally with editors about
what should or should not be pub
lished.
When the articles finally began
to appear, Mr.. Oumansky was or
dered to report at once to Moscow.
Ambassador Oumansky succeeded
Alexander T. Troyanovsky, who also
was "purged" because Of a news
paper incident.
Appeal for Romm.
Mr.. Troyanovsky was a lifelong
friend Of Vladimir Romm, the for
mer correspondent in the United
States of the Izvestia, who was ac-
cused of being Trotskyite and was
court-martialed in Moscow.
American newspaper friends of
Romm who feared he would be exc
cuted, appealed officially to Am
bassador Troyanovsky, asking him
to forward to Moscow an appeal
that Romm's life be saved.
Mr.. Troyanovsky already was un-
der suspicion in the Soviet capital
because of his friendship with the
traitor" But he forwarded the
appeal to Moscow without comment.
Mr.. Troyanovsky shortly there
after was ordered home and it is not
known what has happened to him.