EMPHATIC PROTEST

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 45, 16 May 1927, Page 9

EMPHATIC PROTEST

“BREACH OF TRADE AGREEMENT” DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY CLAIMED By Cable.—Press Association.-—Copyright LONDON, Saturday. The Soviet Embassy decided to make a formal protest against the raid on Soviet House and the Russian Charge d’Affaires, Mr. Rosengoltz, waited upon the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Sir Austen Chamberlain, this afternoon. Mr. Rosengoltz remained at the Foreign Office for 35 minutes and duly lodged the protest on behalf of the Soviet. The document stated that the premises of Arcos, Ltd., and of the Russian Trade Delegation were occupied by armed police, although the offices of the trade delegation enjoyed diplomatic immunity in accordance with the trade agreement of 1921. That immunity was confirmed by the Foreign Office in s. Note dated February 16, 1927. EMPLOYEE ASSAULTED When the raid was made, said the protest, an employee of the trade delegation named Khudiakoff, who re fused to give up the key of a safe containing personal papers and the ciphers and codes of the official trade agent, was assaulted by the police, who carried off mail addressed to the trade agent which couriers had just brought to the office. These proceedings constituted a flagrant violation of Article 5 of the trade agreement, which provided that official agents of the Soviet should be at liberty to communicate with their own Government and with other official representatives of their Government in other countries, and to receive and despatch couriers with sealed bags which were to be exempt from examination. % Moreover, in accordance with Article 1 of the trade agreement the British Government undertook not to discriminate against Russian trade as compared with the trade of any other country. But the very fact of the raid having been made would inevi tably injure the trade between Russia and Britain. Furthermore, in the course of the raid the most elementary guarantees and the demands of common decency were violated, and the search was begun before the presentation of the warrant. The latter was only handed to the assistant director of Arcos, Ltd., Mr. Sorokin, an hour after the commencement of the search. WOMEN SEARCHED BY POLICE The protest further asserted that all the employees-—men and women—of Arcos, Ltd., and the trade delegation were detained and personally searched, including women who possessed diplomatic passports, as for instance the wife of the Charge d’Affaires and the wife of the financial attache. The personal search of the women was carried out by policemen. Mr. Rosengoltz said he had informed his Government of all that had occurred, and while he was awaiting its decision and instructions he protested most emphatically against the viola tion of the obligations undertaken by the British Government under the trade agreement—A. and N.Z.-Sun.