LABOUR PERTURBED.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 112, 14 May 1927, Page 9

LABOUR PERTURBED.

Home Secretary Questioned About Raid. SILENT TILL MONDAY. (Received 10 a.m.) LONDON, May 13. In the House of Commons, as soon as the Speaker took the chair, Mr. Arthur Henderson .(Lab., Burnley) asked if the premises of Arcos, Ltd., were raided on the Home Secretary's authority and for what reason. Sir Wb. Joynson-Hicks: As the result of information given to me on Wednesday I authorised the application for a search warrant, the execution of which is progressing. I cannot give further information yet. Mr. Henderson: Will you on Mouday? You must recognise that the House as a whole regard the action as a serious matter. It is of public importance and should not stand over too long. Sir William: The police are still in possession and the search is going on. I will give any possible information on Monday. Commander Kenworthy (Lab., Hull): You have not answered the questions whether the Soviet trade delegation was raided, whether the head of the delegation had written for diplomatic immunity, or whether the raid was carried out after consultation with Cabinet. Tho Home Secretary: I cannot say the exact portion of the building occupied by the trade delegation. The decision to make the raid rested with the Secretary of State, as it was an ordinary police matter and not with Cabinet. Mr. R. H. S. Hudson (Con., Whitehaven) : Is it true that the Russian Chargo d'Affaires came to the Whip's ollice instead of going to the Foreign Office? Mr. Henderson: Is it true the. Charge d'Affaires consulted you and had done everything he possibly could before he went to get the judgment of the Foreign Secretary ? Mr. Hudson: Was not the visit of the Charge d'Affaires to consult the Labour Executive a gross breach of diplomatic etiquette? The Home Secretary: That question should be addressed to Sir Austen Chamberlain. Lieutenant-Colonel A. P. Heneage (Con., Louth): Is it not clear from the Opposition questions that the Labour part/ ::r.s friends in any country except its own? Sir W. H. Davison (Con., Kennington): Wasn't the British Embassy at St. Petersburgh raided in 191S and no compensation has vet been paid? Mr. E. Thurtlo (Lab., Shorediteh): Is the Home Secretary aware there are two separate organisations in the Arcos building, one of which is diplomatically immune ? Did you authorise' a search of both? Sir W. H. Davison: Is the Home Secretary aware that nobody knows where the Third International ends and the Soviet begins? The Home Secretary said he could not further discuss the subject till Monday.—(A. and N.Z. and Sydney "Sun.")