BRITISH PROTEST.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 57, 9 March 1931, Page 7

BRITISH PROTEST.

"RED" PRISON CAMPS.

Turbulent Scene at Albert Hall

Meeting.

"JIX" GREETED WITH UPROAR,

(United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright)

(Received 9.30 a.m.)

LONDON, March S,

Turbulent scenes occurred at a demonstration by the Trade Defence Union held in the Albert Hall to protest against the brutalities 'perpetrated in Russian prison camps. As soon as Viscount Brentford (formerly Sir William Joynson-Hicks) rose to speak, a crowd of men stood up in tlie topmost tier of seats in the hall and shouted: "Long live the Soviet."

Pandemonium at once broke loose. Hundreds of stewards surrounded the interrupters and a free fight resulted. The demonstrators finally were thrown out into the street.

When Lord Brentford attempted to resume his speech there was fresh uproar, and fireworks . were thrown from the galleries.

Again the stewards pounced upon the interrupters, and some women were bundled out of the hall kicking antl screaming.

Describing the horrors of the Russian timber camps, Lord Brentford said the cruelties alleged against the Czar were nothing compared to the barbarities being perpetrated in Russia to-day. Speaking in broken English, a Russian refugee from Archangel related terrible experiences in the camps, the conditions in which, he said, were appalling. This speaker was subjected to a hostile demonstration, as also was Mr. Winston Churchill, who pointed a finger at the people being ejected, and shouted above the din: "They are miserable hirelings, poor, wretched people who are paid with roubles to make trouble."

A resolution moved by Sir Hilton Young calling upon the Government to terminate the trade agreement with Russia was carried amid "booing," which was drowned bv a storm of cheers.

RUMANIAN VETO. TRANSIT OF RUSSIAN GOODS. BUCHAREST, March S. The Rumanian Government, which already has forbidden the importation of Rus'sian goods, has refused permission to Danube navigation companies to transport Russian cereals or petrol through Rumanian ports.