I N THE FALL OF 1927, I WAS AP-
pointed chief of The Associated Press Bureau in Moscow. The
appointment took place in Geneva, Switzerland, whither I was
summoned to meet Kent Cooper, general manager, and Charles
Stephenson Smith, then chief of the AP European Service.

At the time of my appointment, Reuters, the semiofficial Brit-
ish news agency, owing to the recent break in Anglo-Soviet re-
lations, had withdrawn their correspondent from Moscow. In
view of this I was instructed to file all my cabled reports via
Reuters, London. This meant that I represented a major part
of the Anglo-American press--a journalistic post unprecedent-
ed in the U.S.S.R. and of such outstanding importance as to
command the wholesome respect of the Soviet Government.
It also commanded the keen and not-so-wholesome interest of
the Cheka's counterespionage service, which was always on the
lookout for men in a position to render them some unique serv-
ice. Its agents, the most dangerous and aggressive men on Lu-
bianka, were not long in casting furtive glances in my direction.
Before returning to Russia I had read in the Soviet press re-
newed warnings of approaching war. Well-informed people in
France and Switzerland scoffed at the idea of an attack on the

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