COMMUNISTS RAIDED

Hokitika Guardian, 16 October 1925, Page 2

COMMUNISTS RAIDED

ARRESTS IN LONDON

fAustralia it N.Z. Cable Association.]

LONDON, Oct. 11. A sensation caused m London by tlie arrest of the Communist leader, Canqibell's earlier arrest, was tlie cause of the Labour Party's election downfall. Poliitt was the victim of the recent kidn:ip|)ing episode. The others arrested were E. \V. Cant. a well known platform speaker, and a m-'iub.-r of the Communist Executive. 11. Bust, seeretarv of the Young Communist League. T. \Y. AATiiteringham. assistant Editor of the Workers’ Weekly. Air Travels Humphreys called at BowStreet in the afternoon and liamlv.l v the warrants to the special branch of the Criminal Investigation Department. The Department immediately gave orders for simultaneous raids. Six detectives. who went in parties in motor Cars, descended on the Communist oIIL es and on the private houses of the leaders. The surprise was complete. The Communists bad not the slightest warning. The police used -ynehmiised watches timed exactly so that the Communists had not opportunity to communicate from one office to another, or to private f offices by phone. None of those arrested olfeivd any opposition. They listened to the warrants, and they were then motored to 32. Bow Street, chaiged. and detained in custody. Inkpen and Cant were arrested at the Communist headquarters. King Street. Covent Garden. Poliitt and Bust were arrested at their offices in Great Ormond Street, and Catnpliell and AYiutetiiigham at Johnson’s Court. Elect. Street.

The police are still in possession of the varum- offices. In each ease the Communists were sent- to Bow Street liefoi'e a search of their rooms hegau. 3 hen motor lories arrived to transfer documents, pamphlets and account hooks to the policestation. The raid was carried out so quietly that no pifblic attention was at trained. Even the Fleet Street journalists did not guess the happenings until ten o’eolek. During the hours that the police were examining bundles of pamphlets, some printed in brilliant red. an elderly attendant sat. in mi arm chair before the office fire reading a hook and not (laving the least at tenlion tu the detectives. The police raid was the second hostile visit or raid on the Communist offices at C'ovent Garden. Earlier in the day a party of National Fascist] Blackshirts raided the office and they carried off the projected sign. They were singing “God Save the King. and “Buie Britannia.” Detectives had previously raided tlie ollices of the National Minority Movement- ill Great Ormond Street in August. seizing a. quantity of printed mat-

lukpeu served a sentence of six months lmrd labour in 1022 for publishing the so-called “Thesis of the Communist Inteniational.”

Tt is understood that the police are looking for two other members of the Communist Party, who are believed to Ik* in, the provinces. Colonel Jackson. At. P.. sneaking at Gravesend on Wednesday evening, claimed that the Government has been ,rjv-cn a mandate to see that all enipts of The ill-eodit ioned. evil-minded minority who are attemnting to undermine and destrov the Const ifut ion. should ho drastically' dealt, with. As chairman of the Conservative Party Organisation 1 sue I his mailer cannot he played wilh. Our party will not tolerate it. It is against the interest of the connlry that this sowing of sedition fli-s persuading men to slop work, should 1,,, allowed to go on. Our Party snvs: •'ll' ,t i- there, i hi'd tie it ! Kill it ! Ihi not hesitate to clear out these aliens who have come for the purpose of trying to make mischief.” The police took possession of a whom current edition of “llm AA orkerWeekly,” just printed. Alnrohv. a member ol the ( ommunist Executive, said ihev Imd Imon exneetiug something ol I lie sort. The Communist, Part v would rally behind their leaders.

'l'll,, [Lrilv Herald states warrants are also lor the arrest of AY. (hdlacher (organiser), mid T. Bell (political

secret ary I■ . . Il K umbo-stood the Communist hemlqnarters in the provinces were alsn searched lasi nighl. LONDON. Oct. 1-L Til,. Executive of I lie Loudon Labour (>arl \ announced it has decided t» apply the decision of iho Liver)tool Cnnl'ereneo lor the ex-elusion of Communists from the Labour Parly.