Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-08-25
Russia
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Russia
Continued From First Page.)
calls for similar closing of the Amer
lean consulates at Vladivostok as
we'll as voiding an agreement for
opening second consulate at Len
ingrad.
Gen. Marshall pointed out that
the projected Leningrad consulate
never had even got started func-
tioning.
He told questioners he assumed
that consular sections in the Amer
lean Embassy at Moscow and in
the Soviet Embassy here would con-
tinue to perform whatever consular
duties are necessary in relations
between the two governments. He
pointed out also that the Soviet still
has its Amtorg trading organiza-
ton headquarters at New York for
conduct of business affairs in this
country.
He described the closing of the
American Consulate in Vladivostok
as regrettable, but not a very seri-
Gus matter. Movements of consular
officers there had been sharply lin
tied by the Soviet, which went to
the extent Of flood lighting the con-
sulate building at night so that any
visitors could be identified.
Gen. Marshall refused any COM
ment for the time being on por-
tons of the Soviet note dealing
with charges and counter charges
IN the cases of the runaway Rus
sian teachers. He explained that
he had not had an opportunity to
study an official translation yet.
Charges Against FBI Reiterated. :
The Soviet note reiterated charges
that the Federal Bureau of Inves-
| tigation was involved in what Mos
cow calls the kidnapping" of Mrs.
Oksana Stepanovna kasenkina and
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Ivanovitch
Samarin, Russian school teachers
VINO have refused to return home.
These charges have been cate
gorically denied by this government,
which countered by accusing Mr..
Lomakin Of deliberately trying to
mislead the public and demanding
his recall because of his improper
conduct.
The Soviet note last night as
serted that American actions had
created a situate in which normal
functioning of it's consulates here
becomes impossible"
Closing of the consulates, whose
functions chiefly concern trade mat
tiers, will not affect diplomatic re-
lations carried on by the two gov
ernments through their embassies
in Moscow and Washington.
Leningrad Building Available.
Circumstances in recent months
had made the American consulate
at Vladivostok of practically no use,
officials said. Enthusiasm here for
opening consulate at Leningrad
had cooled during more than a year
Of delays.
After protracted negotiations, the
Soviet government had made avail
able building for the projected
consulate in Leningrad, but extern
,sive repairs of war damage to the
building were necessary before it
could be used. Plans for such re-
pairs had been under consideration
for some time.
G. Frederick Reinhardt had been
assigned to head the Leningrad
consulate, but recently was called
home to take over the Eastern
European Division in the State
Department.
Envoy Visits Consulate.
The Soviet government main
tanned three consulates in the
United States during the war. but
closed one at Los Angeles several
months ago, leaving only the con-
sulates at New York and San Fran
cisco.
Soviet Ambassador Alexander S.
Panyushkin was a surprise visitor
to the consulate in New York yester-
day. There was no explanation of
the visit at the time.
Mr.. Lomakin is scheduled to sail
from New York Saturday. Depar-
.ture plans of members of his staff
were not known.
In San Francisco. Soviet Consul
General Konstantin A. Efremov said
he was awaiting clearance" for
closing his Consulate. He was reti-
cent about details of his departure,
the Associated Press reported.
No Notice Received Yet.
A Russian consular spokesman In
New York said it would take from
two to three and one-half weeks to
close the consulate there.
Vice Consul Tot I. Chepurnykh
said no official notice of the closing
had yet been received from his gov
eminent. He said he assumed the
orders would go first to the Soviet
Embassy in Washington.
Commenting on the visit to the
consulate yesterday of Mr.. Panyush-
kin, the Vice Consul said, he prob
ably did not know anything about
the order to shut down. Mr.. Che.
purnykh added:
He never mentioned anything"
Mrs Kasenkina Improved.
4 Mrs. Kasenkina. a key figure In
the controversy that led to Mos
cows consulate-closing decision.
was reported continuing to improve
today. in the New York hospital
where she Is recovering from in