STRIKING swiftly and silently, the Royal Canadian mounted police detained an unspecified number of persons as the Government launched an inquiry into disclosures of “secret and confidential” information — reported to concern atomic power — to members of a foreign mission in Ottawa, says Reuter.

Although no official information is available as to the country’s identity, the Canadian Press says that it learns from authoritative sources that the country is Soviet Russia. At the Soviet Embassy — Ambassador M. George Zaroubin is reported to be in Russia — available officials said they had heard nothing of the announcement and did not wish to comment.

The investigation was revealed in an announcement by the Prime Minister, Mr. Mackenzie King, which disclosed appointment of two Royal Commissioners, Mr. Justice Robert Tascherau and Mr. R.L. Kellock of the Supreme Court of Canada who have already begun a secret inquiry. Mr. King said that Government received “information of undoubted authenticity” which established that there were disclosures of “secret and confidential” information to unauthorised persons including some members of the staff of a foreign mission in Ottawa. He said that the Government intended to prosecute those concerned in cases which were warranted by evidence.

Published in Dawn, February 17th, 2021