Evening star., 1948-08-15
Ponyushkin Calls
On Lovett;; ;;Womon
Is Improving
HOUSE PROBERS TRY TO sift
Contradictory Testimony.
Page Al
ANTT-SPY LAW ALLOWING Wire
tapping Reported Drafted.
Page AS
By Gornett D. Hornsr

By Gornett D. Horner
The United States has rejected
a Soviet demand for renewed
control over the Russian school
teacher who risked her life to
escape from the Soviet Consul
late in New York, where she said
she was kept a prisoner"
Undersecretary Of State Lovett
told Soviet Ambassador Alexander
s, Panyushkin yesterday that this
Government does not have the right
TO force the teacher, Mrs. Oksana
Stepanovna Kosenkina, TO put her
self under the control of any one.
The Soviet demand-and the
American rejection-was made in
q dramatic hour and 40-minute
meeting at the State Department
which underscored the grave inter-
national complications which have
developed around the case of this
and another Russian teacher who
has renounced Soviet citizenship.
Under U. 8. Protection.
II climaxed these other develop
ments:
/, Mrs. Kosenkina came under
full protection of the United States
Government when she was served
Yesterday with q subpoena from the
House Committee on Un-American
Activities, which is investigating
Russian spy operations in this coun-
try.
2. Representative Mundt, Repub-
lican, of South Dakota, a commit
tee member, called on New York
police to provide full physical pro-
lection" for Mrs. Kosenkina while
she is recovering in a hospital there
from injuries received Thursday in
her leap from third-fioor room Of
the Soviet consulate,
3. The Russian press accused po-
lice OF q Crude violation" OF the
immunity of the Soviet Consulate
in New York.
Improving ut Hospital
Mrs. Kosenkina was reported by
Roosevelt Hospital in New York as
steadily improving but still on the
critical list" She suffered broken
bones and possible internal injuries
in the leap. The hospital said "she
has not been eating much and has
been In some pain"
The formal note delivered by Mr..
panyushkin to Mr.. Lovett yesterday
afternoon was the fourth Soviet
protest within q week concerning
Russian school teachers who do not
want to 60 home.
The Ambassador refused to tell
reporters anything about the meet
ing. But Michael j. McDermott,
State Department press officer, sup
piled brief account.
Outlines Protests.
Mr.. McDermott said Mr. Panyush-
kin protested:
Alleged action" OF New York
police in entering the Soviet Con-
sulate and searching the room oc-
cupied for six days by Mrs. Kosen-
kina before she jumped out of the
WINDOW 1nurSQay.
That Soviet Consul General Jacob
Lomakin has not been permitted to
see Mrs. Kosenkina in the New
York hospital where she is recover
ing from multiple fractures.
Then, Mr.. McDermott said, the
Ambassador insisted that:
The Soviet Consulate be permitted
to post a 24-hour guard over Mrs
Kosenkina.
The consul general be permitted
to see her.
She be put under the protection"
OF the Soviet Consulate.
She be moved to whatever place
Mr.. Lomakin wanted her moved.
Answers Demands.
In reply, Mr.. McDermott said, Mr..
Lovett told Mr.. Panyushkin that:
The State Department has no re-
port of the alleged police action.
but is requesting one from New York
authorities.
Mrs. Kosenkina has been permit
TED to see whomever she wants to
receive in the hospital. In fact,
Soviet Vice Consul Zot I. Chepur-
nykh was allowed to see her Friday.
although she had not requested the
interview, and she told him that she
didn't want to talk to him.
She will be permitted to see whom
ever she wants to see in the future.
This Government does not have
the right to forcibly require her to
see anybody or to put herself under
the control OF anybody against her
will.
Doubts Press Reports.
Mr.. Panyushkin denied the ac-
curacy of press reports OF Mr..
Chepurnykh's interview with Mrs.
Kosenkina and said he would OBJ
tain another report from the vice
consul. according to Mr.. McDer-
mott.
The vice consul's version of the
interview as given to reporters in
New York was: II saw her for a
minute. Her eyes were closed. She
Continued on Page AS, Col. H.
Communist Clubhouse