Spies in the attic

While official relations be tween Fiji and the Soviet Union might be thawing noticeably, the island gov ernment is not about to let things become too chum my. A planned meeting between two of the visiting Soviet officials and the leadership of the Fiji Labor Party seems to have been smartly knocked on the head. Insiders say Ratu Mara mentioned that he would not take such a call very kindly, whereupon the two Russians quickly deve loped head colds and shaky tummies and called off their tete-a-tete with Labour Party president, Dr Timoci Bavadra. and other luminaries, including Mahendra Chaudary, one of the party’s founders.

Dr Bavadra said he was concerned at the sudden cancellation of the planned visit to party headquarters.

The Labor Party had strong

reason to believe, he said, that the indisposition of the Soviet officials was be cause the Fiji government had let it be known they would not take such a call kindly.

Dr Bavadra said he had earlier objected to alleged plans by the Fiji Police Special Branch to “eaves drop” on Labour Party headquarters during the Soviet visit. He said two Special Branch officers had visited a housewife living next-door to the party offices and asked her if they could climb on to her roof so they could watch the Russians, But the woman turned out to be a Labour Party supporter and promptly “blew the whistle" on the policemen. Dr Bavadra has now lodged a formal protest with the govern ment. From Our Suva Correspondent.