SAFETY OF THE STATE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 May 1940, Page 5

SAFETY OF THE STATE

NUMBER OF ARRESTS MADE

IN BRITAIN

INCLUDING THAT OF MEMBER OF COMMONS.

STATEMENT BY THE HOME SECRETARY.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received This Day, 9.45 a.m.) LONDON, May 23. In the House of Commons the Speaker announced that the Home Secretary (Sir John Anderson) had informed him that he had ordered the detention of a member of the House of Commons, Captain A. H. M. Ramsay (Con., Peebles) who accordingly was taken to Brixton Prison. The speaker said Captain Ramsay had been arrested under Regulation 18 B. The regulation says detention may be ordered on suspicion that a person is “of hostile origin or associations, or has recently been concerned in acts prejudicial to the public safety or defence or in preparation or instigation of such acts.” The Duke of Devonshire, in the House of Lords, stated that a considerable number of British nationals had been arrested today. Sir John Anderson, in the House of Commons, said: “After Parliament had granted new powers last night, I gave instructions for the detention of a number of persons whose names will be revealed as soon as the orders have been carried out. Action has been taken because there is a danger that the organisations of which the persons concerned are leading members might be used for acts prejudicial to the security of the State. The Government action is not a result of their propaganda activities.. Further action will be be taken as circumstances develop.” Captain Ramsay is detained under a regulation which existed before last night. Sir John Anderson said special steps would be taken to increase arms for the police. It was not intended to make the police a combatant force, but it was desirable that they should be armed because they were guarding certain places.

FASCIST UNION MOSLEY & RIGHT OTHERS ARRESTED. POLICE ACTION IN BRITAIN. (Received This Day. 9 a.m.) LONDON, May 23. It is officially stated that the police arrested Sir Oswald Mosley and eight other leaders of the Fascist Union. TREACHERY BILL PROVISION FOR DEATH PENALTY. (Received This Day, 8.45 a.m.) LONDON, May 23. The Treachery Bill provides that the death penalty is imposeable, in certain grave cases of espionage and sabotage. It becomes an offence for any person, with intent to help the enemy, to do or conspire to do any act designed or likely to assist the enemy or impede his Majesty's forces or endanger life.

FURTHER PARTICULARS SOME OF THOSE ARRESTED. (Received This Day, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, May 23. Those arrested in the course of the day in pursuance Of new orders were Sir Oswald Mosley, Raven Thomson, N. Francis Hawkins, F. E. Burdett, Captain U. A. Hick, C. F. Watts, H. McKechnie, C. Bruning, and Mrs Dacre-Fox.

Other arrests today under regulation 18b, but not connected with the arrests above mentioned, of leading members of the British Union of Fascists, included those of Captain Ramsay, M.P., who is president of the Right Club, and John Beckett, secretary of the British People’s Party.