The Key West citizen., 1954-10-28
Various lndignties To U.s. Diplomats In Moscow Revealed
Prior 10 Incident Involving American Embassy Wives
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WASHINGTON R-U. S. diplo-
mats in Moscow are reported to
have been subjected to a series of
personal indignities" by Soviet
police prior to the latest incident
involving two American Embassy
wives.
This is understood to be the rea-
son us. Ambassador Charles E.
Bohlen has moved to seek the per-
sonal Intervention Of Foreign Min
ister Molotoy. Essentially, Bohlen
is concerned to obtain greater re-
spect for the rights of his embassy
staff and greater regard for their
safety.
State Department officials de-
clined to discuss previous incidents
involving diplomatic immunity but
it was learned that there has been
4 series Of these minor clashes.
Most, II not all, were said to
stem from picture taking by Amer
leans. Cameras have been seized,
film confiscated and in some in
stances diplomats have been de-
tanned even though they were pho
tographing subjects permissible
under Russian regulations.
The most recent incident came
Monday morning when Mrs. Karl
z. Sommerlatte, wife Of the sec
ond secretary in the embassy, and
Mrs. Houston Stiff, wife of the as
sistant naval attache, carried a
camera on q walk near the us.
Embassy in Moscow.
Washington and Moscow ac-
counts differ as to what happened.
The Washington version: The
two women asked permission to
photograph some Russian women
When this permission was refused,
4 man suggested that they should
20 to q nearby workers club where
there was photograph material
they would be interested in. At
the club two Soviet secret police
agents forcibly prevented them
from leaving although both pre-
sented diplomatic identification.
Mrs. Sommerlatte and Mrs. Stiff
put up 4 fight to get away. After
about an hour they were rescued
by Sommerlatte.
The Soviet version: The two
women had sought to take a pic
ture Of some Russian children
against q background where re-
pairs were under way and there
was considerable rubble. The faith
er Of one of the children protested
having his daughters picture TAX
en- against such a background. He
and a worker invited the women
TO a factory club nearby, and the
worker tried to tell Mrs. Sommer-
latte Of her ''improper act" at
which point she hit him in the
face and s'brutally pushed away"
q woman nearby. Moscow also
said that when Sommerlatte ar
rived he "allowed himself a NUM-
Der Of tactless remarks about the
Soviet Union"
Bohlen and the Soviet foreign
minister exchanged protests over
the affair and the Foreign Minis
try declared Mrs. Sommerlatte
persona non grata--that is, per-
sonally unacceptable.
Persons familiar with conditions
IN Moscow say the number OF re-
cent incidents appears in part to
stem from a superficial liberaliz-
ing Of Russian regulations about
what foreigners may do there.
The Malenkov governments re-
Taxation Of many restrictions has
encouraged Americans to travel
about and make pictures in un-
restricted areas. At the same time
the Soviets have repeatedly warned
their people, particularly Commu-
mist party members, to be on the
alert for spies and people intent
on stealing Soviet secrets. In the
American view this appears to
have stirred up considerable mis-
placed zeal on the part Of minor
police authorities and many ordi-
nary citizens.