Recent Defections, D.P.'S (Political), and Disappointed Comrades

The following is a culling through the news of Communists and sympathisers who have left the party or got themselves into disfavour in the past month or so.

Vladimir Clementis (former Foreign Minister of Czechoslovakia) and wife Ludmila, arrested for espionage and conspiracy against the Communist regime, together with 10 members of the Central Committee of the Czechoslovak Communist Party, and four Communist District secretaries.

Bohuslav Kratochil, Czech Ambassador in India, with wife and son sought political exile in England.

Josef Edouard Felix, acting Consul-General for Czechoslovakia in Australia, resigned position and sought political exile in Australia. His is the seventh resignation from the Czech consular service in Australia since June, 1948, when the Communist Government took over control of Czechoslovakia.

Vasslli Chapochnikoff, son of a former Red Marshal and director of the Soviet five-year re-armament plan gave information to allies in Berlin on Russian atomic progress.

Private John Keith Waller, British Army in Germany, deserted to Russian zone last May, returned with German wife this Blaster, to face sentence for desertion in preference to staying in Russian zone.

Robert Wood, Harvard law school graduate, once state secretary of Communist Party in Oklahoma, recently member of New York County Committee and "Dally Worker" writer. Expelled "for . . . panic in the face of the fire of the class enemy, for acts endangering the party . . . for acts of white Chauvinism, and conduct unbecoming his post."

Emil Horyna, Czech military attache in Istanbul, requested asylum in Turkey.

Horst Lommer, German author and Red propagandist who sought refuge in West sector of Berlin, "disappointed and ashamed."