The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, MAY l6, 1927. THE LONDON RAID.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 May 1927, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, MAY 16, 1927. THE LONDON RAID.

"I he sensational raid which took place in London last week was something of a surprise packet. It was a most unusual course, but doubtless the end justified the means. The raid was on the Russian commercial headquarters, which were surrounded first and afterwards the whole place was searched with what appears to be marked thoroughness. The raid appears also to have been planned with much forethought, which further conforms in the mind the serious import of the occasion. Ail army of people found within the building were closely examined and the vaults of the building did not escape attention. Some thousands of papers were seized, suggesting a search designed for documents of more than unusual importance. The newspaper comment at Home is interesting, indicating as it does a search for subversive propaganda at least. The full truth has yet to be revealed, but for long oast there has been alarm felt in many well-informed quarters that the Soviet designs of the Russian organisations are not in the interests of the welfare of the British Empire. The large quantity of documents discovered will reveal something of the truth or otherwise of this statement. Tf tile discovery is in the affirmative, it will he well and wise to get rid of

the hot-bed of sedition alleged to be breeding in England by reas m oT Russian intrigue. If all the allegations are without confirmation, then so much the better for Russia, and the <|Uiekcr u ill Anglo-Russian "relations be brought to a more cordial stage. It is significant that ill the crisis the raid has brought about. Labor as usual champions Russia. We had the same policy in connection with China for the sake of the feelings of the revolutionary Chinese. Now, the Labor party is more concerned about the feelings of tlie Russians than the safety of their own country and Empire. There wore a number of questions fired at Ministers in the House of Commons hut the most interesting was the one to this efleet: ‘‘ls it not clear front the Opposition questions that the Labor parly are friends with any country except their own?’’ That query has its Empire effect, also. We see the Labor press bore and Labor members also giving first consideration to the tender feelings of the Chinese or Russians, rather than to the rights and privileges of their own. people. There is inevitably the suggestion from all Labour quarters, that British action is always wrong, and the enemies of Britain are right. Over and over again there is evidence of this false spirit, which fosters also a wrong spirit among the enemies as to the real spirit rampant in the Empire. The spirit within the Empire is essentially loyal and patriotic, but there is always the noisy few to make themselves beard, and in doing so jeopardise the light policy of the country. Britain’s record is Midi that in its foreign policy any Government in power may lie trusted to do tiie right thing. To assist, to that end there should he helpful co-operation from within. The detractors arc those always seeking to pull down or destroy, never an effort to build up and create conditions for universal peace. There is so much noise and turmoil about the pulling down operations that it is not possible for peace to protrude, and hence we have the warring and unrest within. This London raid has its serious national motif. Of that we may lie assured. The consequent cs of the act, are themselves too grave to be otherwise than justifiable, and the justification will be revealed in due course if patience be shown.