ANTI-SOVIET RAID

Hokitika Guardian, 14 May 1927, Page 3

ANTI-SOVIET RAID

BY LONDON POLICE. (Australian Press Association & Sun.) LONDON, May 12. There has been a dramatic raid made by some hundreds of police on Soviet House, Moorgnto Street, the headquarters of the Areos Company, Limited and of the Russian Trade Delegation. A crowd of uniformed and plainclothed constables suddenly jumpeil from motor ears and swarmed through the doors of the house in detachments. They raced to the back to guard every exit.

Squads of police were placed in post tion shoulder to shoulder at eve r\ door, until there was a cordon of police drawn completely round the premises. The traffic thereabouts was diverted, no one on any pretext being allowed to leave or to enter the building. Areos. Limited, hitherto has enjoyed diplomatic immunity, hut recently it lias been subjected to police inquiry.

The mid was confined until late this evening;, when a munher of the Areos Limited, employees were escorted from the premises h.v plain-elotlies policemen and were driven away in motor ears.

This raid is the outcome of a report made to the Home Secretary (Sir AY. M. Joynson Hicks) on Wednesday by the police and the Secert Service Department. The police seized somepapers which will ho closely examined, pending further action.

LONDON SURPRISED. LONDON. .May 13

The City of London had its greatest sensation in recent years yesterday, when the police raided the palatial building in Moorgnto Street, which is wholly devoted to the offices of Areos, Ltd., and to the Hussion Trade Delegation.

The raid was begun at 4.«'JO o'clock in the afternoon, and the police remained in possession of the building all night. Their search and examination of documents found will continue to-dav.

About 108 uniformed policemen and between 30 and *lO detectives participated in the operations. The official staff of Areos, Ltd., and of the Russian Trade Delegation are believed to total about lour hundred persons. The majority of them are Russians and the remainder are Britishers.

The first action of the police was to disconnect the telephones of the building. 'The police then separated the men from the women in the place, but they released the women in ■"batches, after examining their handbags.

The inale employees were detained by the police until 9.30 o’clock at night. They were formed into a long queue on the staircase, and they filed into the street between detectives, who three times checked their names and addresses before the men reached the door.

The main body of the police then departed, while the majority of the detectives left just before midnight.

The great building remains in charge of a. small body of police detectives and a few officials who volunteered to stay. Every nook and corner of the building is being searched. The detectives were accompanied by translators, interpreters and photographers. They insisted on all the desks and sales being opened for them.

There were two auditors and a “ Daily Herald” (Labour) reporter in the building when the police arrived. They were also detained for a while with the rest. *-* Every member of the stall was searched, and their pockets were turned out.

THE OBJECTS IN VIEW. LONDON, May 13

'The “ Daily Mail ” in a leading article, says:—There is every possible justification for the raid. 'I he wonder is that it was so long delayed, after open, impudent intervention of Soviet agents during the general and coni strikes, and Moscow’s systematic, malicious anti-B'ritisli propaganda in China, and incitement to organised mobs to rob and murder foreigners

there. The country will welcome the Go-

vernment’s vigour, especially it it means turning out Moscow plotters bag and baggage. At present there is no information regarding any documents being discovered which may provide the names of any extremists in Britain in the pay of Moscow, or show how money was used to stir up strikes. LONDON, May 13. Sir AVyndham Childs, of the Special Branch of Scotland Yard, personally conducted operations during the raid. The “ Daily Express ” says it understands that lie found what he set out to discover, but it adds that the examination of the documents is likely to occupy a considerable time.

LONDON, May 13

There is naturally the keenest speculation at the result of the search at Soviet House.

'Rt. Hon. Arthur Henderson is asking a question as to what was the object in the House of Commons to-day. It is believed, says the “ Daily Chronicle’s ” political correspondent, that Arcos Limited has been the means of financing subversive propaganda in Britain. Another theory, however, is that important secret official documents were stolon, and were believed to be in the possession of persons connected with Arcos Limited. At anyrate, whatever the object was. it is stated that last, night’s search lias been attended with success.

DOCUMENTS THE QUEST. LONDON, May 13. The “ Daily Telegraph’s” political correspondent learns that the object of the police search is the recovery of some official documents. It is understood that the police, in the early stages of the raid, encountered some resistance, the keys of some safes in vaults being refused, and it is also stated attempts were made to burn certain documents. The Soviet Embassy at Chesham House has informed the “ Daily Express ”: —The Arcos Ltd., is a private trading corporation. It has nothing to do with the Soviet Government, but it is admittedly interested in the Russian Trade Delegation. The “Financial Times” says: Areas Company, Ltd., has a capital oi one million sterling, of which £900.000 is unpaid. The Company acts as merchants’ agents for the Soviet Government, and it also assumes the respon-

sibility towards the British suppliers for the goods sold to the Soviet customers, and also on behalf of the Russian customers, it selects their British contracting firms.

NO ARRESTS -MADE. LONDON, May 13. After the raid an employee said:— “The police even scrutinised a couple of dance tickets in m.v possession.” It is reported a number of rifles and life preservers were found, and they were confiscated. No arrests were made. The name and address of every person in the building were taken. THE MAX BEHIND THE TtATD. LONDON. May 13. The raid on the Arcos Company’s premises was undertaken by Sir W djiam Joyn?on Hicks (Secretary fop

Home Affairs), at the instance of the police heads, in connection with alleged political propaganda. The preparations of the police, which were most elaborate, included a force of detectives who were working in disguise on some roofs of places opposite to the Areos buildings for several days previously. The documents that have been seized by the police are so elaborate that the police, after several hours’ work, secured fifty more helpers.

The police have confiscated lot U)J<> documents and also a number of lilies and life-preservers.

There were huge crowds in the streets, who watched the proceedings. Many in the crowds were wearing red rosettes. In the vaults of the building a. number of large safes were seized for which keys have not been forthcoming. The police carefully searched the several hundred men and women employees, who finally were permitted to leave, after being detained for several hours. LONDON. May 1.3.

The “ Daily Mail” says: The search extended to mid-night. This is said to he due to the fact of certain State* documents being missing, which documents may he. in the possession of th.* Russiaiiis. The police occupation of the place is likely to last for several days. Russians attempted to burn certain papers, hut the police prevented this. LONDON, .May 13. The “Daily News” says: Areos, Limited, and its subsidiary eompani.s. employ 1210 hands, including four hundred Russians. Only -M. Khinkhuk. the successor to .M. Krassin. as Soviet representative in Britain, enjoys diplomatic. immunity from arrest or search, and the liberty to communicate with the Soviet in cipher, and to receive sealed mail hags. The Areos Company is understood to have purchased the offices, which are elaborately fitted, at an expenditure approaching one million pounds. The offices consist of a five-storied building, containing hundreds of rooms. DISCUSSED TN COMMONS. (Received this dnv at 0.30 a.m.) LONDON. .Mav 13.

As soon as the Speaker took the chair, Mon Henderson asked was the Areos raid on the Home Secretary’s authority and for what reason. Sir Joynson flicks said as a result of information given him on AVednesday, he authorised the application o! a seai'cli warrant, the execution ol which was progressing, lie could not .supply further information yet.

,M.r Henderson: “Will you o'n .Monday. You must recognise the House as a whole regards the action as a serious matter. It is of public importance and should lint stand over too long.” Sir Joynson Hicks: "'I he police are still in possession and the search is going on. I will give any possible information on .Monday.” .Mr Kenworthy: “Aon have not answered whether the Soviet delegation was raided. Whether the head of it had a written diplomatic ■■immunity and whether the raid was alter consultation of Cabinet I'” Sir Joynson Hicks: "I could not say the exact portion of the building occupied by the Trade Delegation. I lie decision to raid rested with the Secretary of State as irdinnry police matter, not with Cabinet.” Air Hudson: “Is it true the Russian Charge D’Affaires came to the Whips Office instead of going to the Foreign Office ?”

Mr Henderson said it was true the Charge D’Alfaires had consulted him and he had done everything he possibly could, before he went to gel the judgment of the Foreign Secretary. Mr Hudson*. “AVus not the visit of the Charge D’Allnires to consult the Labour Executive a gross breach ol diplomatic etiquetteT ’ Sir Joynson Hicks: I hat question should bo addressed to Sir A. Chamberlain.”

Air Heueage: “Is not it clear I nun the Opposition questions that the Labour Party are friends with any country except their own 7” Sir Davison: “Was not the British Embassy at St. Petersburg raided in 1918. and no compensation lias been paid.” Air Thlirtle —‘Ms Sir J. flicks aware there are two separate organisations in Areos Building, one diplomatically immune? Did he authorise the semen of both?”

Air Davison: “ Is Sir J. Hicks aware that nobody knows where the I bird International ends and the Soviet liegins?”

Sir ,T. Hicks said he could not further discuss the subject till Monday. The House talked out the Government of Scotland Bill (cabled on Apt iI GtliY.

SOVIET PROTEST. LONDON. Alav 13

The Soviet Embassy lias decided to formallv protest against the raid, llie Charge d’All'aires, Rosengoltz, visited the Foreign Office at noon and remained w ith Sir A. Chamberlain for thirty minutes. It is understood be lodged a protest.