Congratulations on actions towards Mrs Petrov – Letter to Prime Minister Robert Menzies

Letter to Prime Minister Robert Menzies about the attempted abduction of Mrs Petrov from Darwin airport by Russian diplomatic couriers.

Transcript

41 Ponsonby Rd,

Karori,

Wellington.

New Zealand.

22:4:54.

[Stamped in purple ink ‘PRIME MINISTER’S DEPT’, ‘27 APR 1954’.]

[Stamp in black ink ‘RECEIVED’, ‘26 APR 1954’, ‘PRIME MINISTERS’ OFFICE’.]

The Hon Robert Menzies,

Prime Minister,

AUSTRALIA.

Dear Sir,

After reading the account and viewing the pictures of Mrs Petrov’s shocking experience, may I Sir, congratulate you on the action you have taken which prevented the Russian gorillas snatching a defenceless woman from her husband and transporting her back to God knows what.

As a Britisher, it thrilled me to know we still respect chivilary [sic], decency, and insist on freedom of the individual which is the only way the Englishman has always understood. Our Forefathers have fought and died for this right and I trust we shall always fight until the end of time for this right.

I am now over 45 years of age but would have given anything to be present in Darwin at the time of this disgraceful behaviour just to have been able to put those two hooligans in their proper place – on the floor. Types of that sort only assimilate lessons through their hides.

Yours sincerely,

R Francis [handwritten signature]

R. Francis.

Related records

Record

Evdokia Petrov being escorted to a waiting plane by diplomatic couriers

Russian spy Evdokia Petrov being escorted to a plane by diplomatic couriers at Mascot airport

This is a black-and-white photograph of Evdokia Petrov being escorted to a plane by diplomatic couriers in 1954.

Record

Evdokia Petrov and guards on the tarmac – newspaper photograph

A photograph of Evdokia Petrov being escorted to an aircraft by two diplomatic couriers.

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