BRITAIN’S SOVIET DECISION.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 May 1927, Page 2

BRITAIN’S SOVIET DECISION.

STATEMENT BY PREMIER BALDWIN.

{Australian <k N.Z. Cable Association.] LONDON. May 24. In the House of Commons, the Prime Minister, Mr Baldwin, in making his statement of the subject of the raid on Arcos Company’s premises in London, said that for months the police, in collaboration with the military, had been investigating the activities of a group of secret agents in England, who were endeavouring to obtain highly confidential documents relating to Britain’s armed forces. It became increasingly difficult to resist the conclusion that the agents wore working on behalf of the Soviet Government, and that they obtained their instructions from the Russian Trade Delegation, who arranged tor transmission of photographs and copies of documents to Moscow. These suspicions were confirmed early in the year, when a British subject, employed in the British Air Force, was convicted of stealing two documents. The latter documents were recovered. The man was

now m prison. “The secret organisation for which this man obtained the documents.’’ he said, “is known, and its connections with Russia have been established. Recently another official confidential document was missed Information, supported by documentary evidence, showed that Ibis document was conveyed to Soviet House and was there photographically reproduced. Consequent lv, a search warrant was obtained, 'l’he police, on entering the building. went straight to the photographic room, occupied hv Muller who is known to lie intimately concerned in the activities of secret agents. Another man, named Kolin, was found working in a subterranean photographic room. One document, found in another room was signed by Glunski, who. until lie returned to Russia a few days ago. combined the duties of head of staff allotments of the trade Delegation with those of chief espionage and secret propaganda agent in Europe. The police found in Knlin’s possession a number of closed envelopes addressed to well-known Communist individntils and organisations in Britain and America. The envelope's contained information and directions from the Red International. Lists ol these addresses were found ill another room. They showed the offices were used as a clearing house for suhsersive propaganda, and subjects mentioned in correspondence included “Hands (HI China,” “Campaign Against the trade Fni’ii Bill.’’ ‘‘Agitation and Industrial Affairs in America.” The police found in Kolia’s room printed application forms for membership of the National Minority Movement, tilled up by seamen, who were canvassed, in Russian ports. Another letter advocated using A.rtnx ships as grounds for training class-conscious men, who could subsequently find employment in British ships, adding that preference should lie given to negroes, liindus and other oppressed nationalities. In another room, without a knob on the door, and cntoralde only by means oi a key. when the police were admitted, they found Muller and two women taking papers from a despatch box and burning them. Muller resisted the seizure of the despatch box, and in the struggle a paper fell fro in At tiller’s pocket containing addresses of Communist organisations in the Touted States, Mexico, Canada. New Zealand and Australia. Other documents proved conclusively the existence under the Soviet authorities’ direct control, of a regular system of sending subversive papers, from Russia to Communists in Britain null elsewhere.” “The discoveries.” he continued proved, lirst, that military espionage and subversive activities throughout the Empire wore carried out I rum Solid House; secondly, that there was no effective differentiation of duties made between members of the Trade Delegation and employees of Arcos. Both wore engaged ill anti-British agitation. espionage and propaganda. The Trade Delegation was thus engaged in breaking a solemn undertaking. for the Russian Trade Agreement provided that neither party should engage in hostile action outside its own borders.” Mr Baldwin continued that Britain had, several times, drawn the attention of the Soviet to breaches of these engagements by Russian emissiaries in China. M. Rosengoltz. the Soviet Charge d’Affaires in London, had informed the Soviet Government that it wii, essential to explain to the press that M. Borodin (in China) was not .n the service of the Soviet, which was in no way responsible lot his actions. Yet the Government was in possession of a telegram from the Soviet Commissary of Foreign Affairs, dated November. stating that •M. Borodin was to take his orders direct from Moscow. He was appointed official representative of the Soviet in the provinces under the Cantonese. Thus M Rosen, goltz’s and M. Litvinoff’s statements were untrue, and were made in the hope of deceiving the British Government and people.

RFSSIAX TELEGTiAMS QUOTED

LONDON. Afay 2o

Continuing his remarks in the House of Commons, Air Baldwin said that another seizure made was that of a telegram from AI. Bosengoltz (from Loudon) to the Foreign Office at Afoscow. the Soviet charge therein staling the following: -

“One of tiie principal obstacles to conducting a protest against the British violence in China was tho appelling supply of information from China. It is necessary to send all the Cantonese official records of events at -Vanking. particularly to deny Sir Austen Chamberlain's statement in the House of Commons. Copies should he sent to the Independent Labour Party, and to the “Daily Herald.” also a message from the Shanghai Trade Unions to the Trades Union Congress pointing out that the British bombardment of Nanking bad resulted in tlie death of a large number of the Chinese trade unionists. AVoukl it hot Vo possible to cite the action of torpedoer “Wo-C cock” at Chingchow, ns there is only the vaguest information* on that sTdijoet here.”

Thus, said Afr Baldwin, At. Bosengoltz was soliciting information for the purpose of a political campaign in Britain, giving the substance of messages that he wanted to see transmitted here as news from China. Af. Bosengoltz on April 13th. telegraphed to the Foreign Office at Afoscow: “T very much doubt the possibility of a raid on the Embassy, but it would

lie a useful precaution to suspend, for a time, the forwarding of documents by post between London and Aloscov, and vice versa.” Afr Baldwin concluded hv saying: “Tn the face of these breaches of the Trade Agreement and of international comity. His Majesty's Government have shown patience and fnrJrearance which probably is without a parallel. As late as February thev renewed, in tlie most solemn form, tlieir protest and warning; hut it is clear that neither had any effect. ‘Diplomatic relations, when thus deliberately and systematically abused, are in themselves a danger to peace. The Government, therefore; have decided that, unless the Hou«e expresses disapproval on Thurs*

day, that they will terminate the Trade Agreement and will require the withdrawal of the Trade Delegation and the. Soviet Mission from London, and will recall the British. Mission from Moscow. The legitimate use of the Arcos Coy. will not he affected by these decisions. The Government, while withdrawing the privileges conferred by tho Trade Agreement, is willing to arrange for ordinary trade facilities between the two countries.

COMMONS DEBATE. LONDON, May 25.

In the House of Commons, Rt. Hon. J. R. dynes (Labour Leader) asked: Was it intended to publish any further documents or a White Paper before Thursdav?

Mr dynes also asked: Did the Cabinet. before coming to its decision, communicate with the Soviet, with a view to a conference leading to a better understanding ? Mi 1 Baldwin replied: ‘ J T\'e cannot prepare a White Book by Thursday; hut a collection of papers will ho prepared, supporting, hut not supplementing. what had been saTd.”

The Cabinet, he said, had not approached the Soviet with a view to a conference.

Ylr Lloyd George urged that the documents from which Mr Baldwin has I'cad should he printed in full.

Mr Baldwin: “That is reasonable. We will do our best to produce something.” Mr Clynes asked: “It is not unprecedented to reach such a decision without conference?”

Sir W. H. Davison (Conservative) : “Is it not unprecedented for the representative of a foreign Government to conspire against the Government to which lie is accretlflod ?” Air Baldwin said that if Mr Clynes would put his question on the order paper. Sir Austen Chamberlain would give him all he desired about conversations with Russians, Major L. Hore-Eelisha (Liberal) asked : Were any spies arrested ? Mr Baldwin : “No.” Major Hore-Bolisha : “Are any prosecutions contemplated?” Mr Baldwin : “I cannot sav.” Mr ft. A. Taylor (Labour)': “Have the engineering employers pointed out the trade detriment that is likely to follow this severance of relations ?” Mr Baldwin said that he could not recollect any such representations.

Mr Sam Samuel (Conservative!: “Decs the Opposition represent the Russian Government in this House.” The Speaker told '' r - annuel that he must not impute any such motives. Mr Samuel then withdrew his remark.

MR BALDWIN’S REVELATIONS. LONDON, May 23. Mr Baldwin’s revolutions surprised even the Soviet’s friends. Labour mcmebers listened subdued and embarrassed. The moderates admit the sins ot the Soviet Government, but they regard the break in contact as a grave mistake for trade and for other reasons. There was an audience of Russians in the Distinguished Strangers’ Gallery. They heard the disclosures without expression and without comment. The Daily .Express understands that the Russians will receive their passports on Friday. The Daily Telegraph asks:—What would (nit even a big hatch of trade orders into the balance compared with cumulative effects of insidious Communistic poison which these plotters have been infusing into the British social, industrial, and politcal system? The Morning Post says:—Tho Socialist legend of Soviet House as the harmless headquarters of a peaceful, beneficent trading company will hardly survive these disclosures. The lobby gossip to-night is centred round the rumours from the Labour quarters that the Minstry’s chief motive is to force oil an election late in the autumn, or a cry of “Clear Out the Reds!”

The Conservative headquarters scouts the suggestion.

FORGERIES ALLEGED. LONDON. May 25. A booklet lias been issued entitled

“Anti-Soviet Forgeries,” with a foreword by the Labourite member of the House of Commons, Mr T.nnsbury. The booklet relates the doings of tho mysterious “Air S.” who, the author states,- approached M. Rakovftky and offered to prove British forgeries, and to show how money was being spent to discredit Russia,

IDENTITY OF “MR S”, LONDON, .May 25. The "Morning Post” says: “Mr S” is really Henry Lawerence. alias Singleton, who was Lorn in Melbourne and who has for years boon a purveyor of forged documents, a potential agent provocateur for either the Sovietor for Britain, which ever suited his purpose or his pocket, host. He actually went to .Mr Ramsay MacDonald when he was Prime Minister and offered for £509 to produce the author of the infamous “Zinovieff letter.” The offer was rejected with contempt.’’

LONDON, A lay 25. The “Daily Herald” makes a great point that the Soviet has been condemned unheard.

A section of the Press, including the

“Daily Express” and the “Daily Chronicle,” while condemning Russia’s hostile provocative policy, are not entirely convinced of the wisdom of the breaking off relations.

RUSSIA READY FOR WORSE AIOSCOW. Alav 25

The paper “Prnvada says:— This decision of the British Cabinet signifies the gravest turning point in international relations.

Tiie paper expresses the opinion that other steps will follow, including increased attempts to create a united front against Soviet Russia, which in spite of everything, will continue to defend the cause <lf peace.

SOVIET DECISION. AIOSCOW. A fay go

It is officially announced that the Arens Cov will Ik? dissolved, despite Air Baldwin's permission for it to continue,

It is apparently the Soviet's view that the rupture should be complete. STOCK HO LA I. Afay 25.

Tlie newspaper “Tidningcn” says the Soviet Baltic fleet, which was en route to visit foreign ports, has been wirelcssly rocn 1 led. LONDON. Afay 25

It is completely too early to gather the effect on tlie Continent, hut there are no signs of any sudden change of policy in Frame or Germany. AI. Briand (French Foreign Minister) is now in conference with At.. Chicherin (the Soviet Foreign Minister). Af. Briand is reported to have said that Britain has acted alone. BERLIN. Alav 25.

The "Vossiohe-Zeitung” publishes an account from Kovno of the arrest of a l.ithunian general, Kleszinski. allegedly caught redhanded giving military documents to a high representative at the Soviet Legation.

Many sources predict Lithuania will sever relations with the Soviet.