The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1954-08-14
MORE RUSSIAN SPIES

japanese Angle
From Tokyo officials, however,
came a guarded hint the medium
high" government sources he men,
toned might soon be arrested. The
Japanese Foreign Office released
some documents in the case soon
after Rastvorov's news conference.
then said without elaboration that
further details would be forthcom-
ing "aS soon as measures now be-
ing taken reach a more definite
stage"
The documents included a state.
ment by RaStvorov that he fled
the Russians because of the Dec.
% execution of his one-time men,
tor, Soviet police boss Lavrenty
Beria; because of quarrels with
his chief at Tokyo and pending or
ders for his return home. and be-
cause he had failed to recruit any
Americans as spies.
Shizuhiko Yamamoto, a Japanese
police official who questioned Rast-
vorov in Washington, told the
newspaper Tokyo Shimbun more
than 20 persons have been uues-
toned.
I'VE have found most of them
former Servicemen who 20 around
selling tips" he said. 1--WE have
determined they haven't sold any
important tips, so we don't suspect
them seriously of violating the law
lpenalizing leaks of US. security
forces" classified information.
None of them is under arrest"
At his news conference, Rast-
vorov declined to say what hap
pened to him after he came to
the West. However, he did say
American friends" helped him
and he was flown almost right
away to the United States.
He firmly requested that no pic
lures be taken during the con-
ference.
The young Russian came off
handily in verbal tits with report
erS. Picking carefully, he replied
to some questions in heavily ac-
cented English, let others slide by
and rejected still others on securi-
ty grounds.
Careful Footwork
Careful footwork on the part of
the Soviet ambassador was dis
closed, too, by State Department
spok eS m e n. The ambassador
Georgi N. Zarubin, sent word
neither he nor any of his aides
could make it to the State Depart
ment to pick up the formal mott
fication that Rastvorov was, as the
Russians have been saying for
seven m on this, in American
hands.
Last week Zarubin had been at
the State Department inquiring in
to Rastvorov's whereabouts. The
department promised some news
shortly, then asked him in yester-
day Ia hours before the Rastvo-
row news conference.
But Zarubin, not officially told
Rastvorov would be the subject of
his call, apparently got wind of it
and stayed away. Department
spokesman said this was an Gun
precedented" breach of protocol
but they did not consider It a
rebuff.
RaStvorov's disappearance last
Jan. "A was to counter-espionage
agents of the West, the biggest
break since code clerk Igor Gou-
zenko fled the Soviet embassy at
Ottawa In 1915 with an armload
OF secret documents.
Rastvorov told his news confer
ence yesterday he brought out no
documents. But he did bring a de-
tailed knowledge of how a Soviet
spy ring works - something Gou.
zenko was in no position to
know.
Pleads Security
Rastvorov, saying he had told
all he knows to US. authorities
would not reveal methods or tech.
nlques at the news conference
Again, he pleaded security.
State Department Press office,
Henry Suydam opened the new,
conference by reading a Depart,
ment Of Justice Statement an.
nouncing Rastvorov had beer
granted us. entrance Temporarily
under State Department auspices
Then he read Rastvorov's signed
request for asylum. It was dated
the day he bolted and said:
Il, Yuri Alexandrovich Rastyo.
rov, motivated solely by my OWE
wishes, and for political reasons
hereby request the United States
government for political asylum. .
Finally, with a flourish, Suydam
introduced Rastvorov, who read .
prepared statement - first in Rus.
sian and then in English - before
taking on all corners in a ques.
tlon-and-answer session.
The statement accused the Com.
munists Of turning Russia into Z