OCR Text |
Show ITALIANS HELD Bolsheviki Hold Up Members of Various Other Missions, Apparently as Hostages. LONDON, March 4 Special dls-patces dls-patces from Petrograd describe the departure of tho British and French embassies and the Belgian, Serbian, Greek and Portuguese legations last Thursday after a series of hindrances which in the case of the Italian embassy, em-bassy, was sufficient to detain its staff' in Petrograd after tho others had lefL The Italians were still in Petrograd, Saturday, and also the staffs of the consulates. According to the correspondent of the Morning Post, the Bolshevik foreign for-eign office, while permitting tho American, Amer-ican, Japanese, Chinese, Brazilian and Siamese delegations to leave without restraint, insisted upon endorsing all passports before departure and , refused re-fused endorsement unless the passport specifically described the owner ns a diplomat. Consequently a number of military and other members of the various va-rious missions were left behind, and, says the correspondent of the Dally Mall, "apparently are held as hostages." hos-tages." Foreigners hot connected with the diplomatic service seem, however, to have accompanied the diplomats on their train, while reports suggest others would be ablo to get away sooner soon-er or later. Reasons given for holding the Italians differ, but it seems that Count Prasso, ono of them, was obnoxious ob-noxious to the Russian foreign office, which was also said to have prevented the Italians helping their nationals to escape from Petrograd, contrary to regulations. According to the correspondent of the Morning Post, provision shops in Petrograd were absolutely empty on Saturday. Many of the shops wero boarded up and food was not obtainable. |