AN OFFICIAL SECRET

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 46, 17 May 1927, Page 9

AN OFFICIAL SECRET

DOCUMENT MISSING REASON FOR ARCOS RAID HOME SECRETARY’S STATEMENT By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright Reed. noon. LONDON, Monday. Sir William Joynson Hicks, Home Secretary, on entering the House of Commons, received prolonged Miniserial and ironical Labour cheers. In a statement to the House re.arding the search of the premises of Yrcos Company, he said: “The information sent to me on Wednesday last by the Secretary for War, satisfied me that a certain official document was, or had been, improperly in the possession of a person employed in the premises of Arcos, Limited.

The document bore in its face the statement that it was property of His Majesty’s Government, and was not to be circulated either directly or in-* directly to the press or any person not holding an official position in His Majesty’s service. “It was, in fact, a document which unauthorised persons were known to be attempting to obtain copies of. In view of that in'ormation I consulted the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary and with their knowledge and assent, I authorised the police to apply to the magistrate for a warrant under the Official Secrets Act, to search the premises of the Arcos building, which is shared by Arcos, Limited, and the Russian Trade Delegation. | “There is free inter-communication throughout the building. “The warrant was accordingly authorised for the search of the premises occupied by Arcos, Limited, and the Trade Delegation. “The search only came to an end at 12 o’clock last night, and the document in question was not found, but the police have taken possession of certain papers, and the examination of these papers is still proceeding.” Replying to a large number of questions from Labour members, the Home Secretary promised to make a fuller statement on Thursday, and to give an opportunity for debate if desired. He denied that any woman was searched, and said that only the handbags of female employees were searched. He was satisfied that the missing official documents were in the Arcos building before he applied for a search warrant. —A. and N.Z. Mr. David Lloyd George said that whether the documents found or not, it was a grave matter and oughT to be discussed. Mr. G. Lansbury. Labour: Does the Home Secretary definitely state that the missing document was stolen oy someone connected with Arcos, Ltd.? Sir William: I was satisfied that the document had been in possession of Arcos.

At question time Commander C. Locker-Lampson, Conservative, said that in the trade agreement with the Soviet Government, the latter recognised the debts to Britain, but later issued a statement saying they did not consider themselves bound by the agreement.

Neither the Russian Trade Delegation in London, nor its staff or premises, had enjoyed diplomatic immunity, but they enjoyed certain privileges mentioned in the trade agreement.—A. and N.Z.-Sun.