COMMUNIST ROUND UP.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 October 1925, Page 1

COMMUNIST ROUND UP.

CAUSES ACUTE CABINET POSITION UHDKUS OANCLLLKI). AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CARLE ASSOCIATION LONDON, OctolnT 7.

11 is jH‘r>istcntly reported that an acute position lias arisen in the Cabinet over a sudden withdrawal ol warrants that were issued lor the arrest or the* deportation <>i Communist, leaders. It was announced, early in September, that Sir Win Joynson-I licks •Secretary lor Home Adairs) had authorised a “ round-up ol those alleged io !.<• assoriated in a l<> stii up dissension in Ihe Army and Navy in connect ion with which the names ot .Mi 1 Saklatavala ALP., and Air Tout Aiaim have been mentioned. According to the papers, warrants tor lour arrests, and lor al hast fifty deportations were is-

sued with an order from tho Home Secretary .Stir W. .Joy M>n Hicks, to Scot la mi Yard to await his final instructions beiore acting.

Ii was revealed at the Cabinet meeting to-dav that all those warrants have been cancelled -mblei.lv. allegedly on Sir Win. .lovn-on links'- orders, notwithstanding the fact that >eot laud Yard had everything ready for a com plot,- Bed •■round-up."

1 1 l- staled 1 ha! t his change ol polic\ was warmly debated in the Cabinet. It is understood that Major-General Sir B. Childs, the head of Scotland Yard, submitted a report lo the tahinel. condemning in outspoken terms the withdrawal of the warrants, and also that he even talked ol resigning.

The • ■ I );i iI v I lerahl.” on t lie ot her hand, editorially credits the Prime Minister. Mr Baldwin, with causing a Cabinet split by preventing Sir Win. .Joviison Hicks from persisting in his plan for harrving the Beds. The ‘Daily lb raid's” article says:

■ rite round tip orders were cancelled last week unit'll to the annoyance of this foolish General who has brought so min It contempt on Scotland A aril. 'Hie whole incident, says the Herald.” gives new significance lo Lord Derhv’s pointed speech at Liverpool on .Monday against, the Communists.

The ■■ Daily Herald ” also stales that Sir Win. Joviison Hicks had prepared a great coup lasi week, il being nutliing les- than the wholesale arresls of ilie Communists, whereon General Childs and .Mr Bodkin had a conference. A special branch ol Scotland Yard was mobilised, and leave was stopped. Scotland Ant'd wasted two days. Then the special branch was hastily demobilised. I hey were left wondering vital had happened.

The ■' Daily Herald " -ays: ” Wliat really happened was that Sir AN. • foyn--ott Hicks had received ihe opinions <J the Prime Minister and the AttorneyGeneral. Mr Baldwin said, in effect : ‘Don't he silly!’ The Attorney-Gen-eral suggested that, before arresting people, il would he well to have some evidence. So the great roup was called oil.” BRITISH LASCI ST T DEFER REFUSED. LONDON. October «. Attempts by the British fascists to enrol special constables have beer abandoned in Liverpool. Afanehoster, and Wolverhampton. A letter sent from the Chid (oilstable ot Alaneliesie:* to tlte ( out man- , dor of the Manchester City Cmtltei' meeting, declining the Fascists s offer to ioin the special constabulary. The Chief Constable said that he wa« confident that Alauchester citizens in the future as in the past, would he ready to hell) the police in maintaining order in eases of emergency.