BOLSREVIK JEWELS

Hokitika Guardian, 9 April 1921, Page 1

BOLS REVIK JEWELS

MR FRANCIS MEVNELL’S SMUG

GLING CLAIM

Mi 1 Francis Meynell, formerly a director of the “Daily Herald,” in an interview with a Central News lepieseiitative, gave an account of how he conveyed to England the famous jewels sent by the Soviet Government as a subsidy to the "Daily Herald. Mr Meynell was abroad paper-buying when a large quantity of pearls and diamonds came into his possession tor conveyance to England. "1 received winning,” he said, ‘that I was to be searched on my return to England. This news came to mo on the very morning of my sailing, when the jewels wore all hidden in my belongings. To got them out fin time was it difficult thing, especially as one of Sir Basil Thomson’s men had taken the room next to mine, hut a more difficult thing was to get them safely to England, in the end, followed by Thomson’s creature, I went to a sweet shop and bought a box ol

chocolate creams. 1 took it hack to my mom anil pressed a jewel into every chocolate in the lower layers. Alter eating a few from the top layer, 1 went out for a walk, leaving the box on my dressing table. ’Die box was nppaientlv inspected in mv absence, hut the subterfuge was not discovered. I took the box to the Post Oliice, and sent it to England. The box, worth perhaps some £IO,OOO, arrived in London, and mv wife and ! Imd to suck huge quantifies of chocolates in order to tree the je wets.

“On another occasion, when 1 was stopped at a Bristish port,” said Mr Meynell, “it was only with ililSculty thut I was able to talk to the defectives with three large diamonds in my mouth rattling against my teeth.” In conclusion, Air Meynell said that the whole of the Bolshevist jewel money was some months ago sent abroad and handed hack to where it came from. According to information elicited in official circles in regard to Mr Meynell’s

statement, the port officials were aware that Mr Meynell had been boasting that he had brought Russian jewels into the country concealed in chocolate creams,

tail, they regarded that ns of far loss , importance than the jewels which were I conveyed to him by M. Kamenoff, and which he disposed of in Hatton Garden, purchasing with Che proceeds, amounting to about £65,000, Exchequer of 5] per cent Bonds, which now produce an inr.oine of about £4OOO. Mr Meynell lias never disclosed who now bolds these bonds, and who will present the coupons for payment of the interest. k