SOVIET HEADQUARTERS IN LONDON

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 112, 14 May 1927, Page 9

SOVIET HEADQUARTERS IN LONDON

BY ORDER OF GOVERNMENT

EMPHATIC OFFICIAL PROTEST

(United Press Association.—Copyright.)

LONDON, 12th May. A dramatic raid has been made by hundreds of police on Soviet House, Moorgate, the headquarters, of Areos, Limited, and the Bussian Trade Delegation. Uniformed and plainclothed constables suddenly jumped from motorcars/and swarmed through the doors id detachments, and raced to the back to guard every exit. Squads were placed in position shoulder to shoulder at every door until a cordon was completely round the premises. Traffic was diverted, no one on any pretext being allowed to leave or enter the building. Arcos hitherto has enjoyed diplomatic immunity, but recently has been the subject of police inquiry. The raid continued until late this evening, when a number of employees were escorted from the premises by plainclothes men,, and driven away in motor-cars. The raid was the outcome of a report to the Homo Secretary on Wednesday by the police and Secret Service Department. The detectives seized papers, which will be .closely examined pending further action.

About 108 uniformed policemen and 30 to 40 detectives participated in the operations. The official staff of Areos and the Delegation is believed to total about four hundred. The majority are .Russians and the remainder British.

OPERATIONS OF POLICE. The first action of the police was to disconnect the telephones. They then separated the . men from the women, but released the latter in batches after examining their handbags. The male employees were detained until 9.30, when they were formed into a long queue on the staircase and filed into the street between detectives, who three times checked their names and addresses before the men reached the door, lhe mam body of police then departed. The majority of the detectives left -just before midnight. Tho great building remained in charge of a small body of police and detectives, and the few officials who volunteered to stay. Every nook and corner of the building was searched. The detectives, accompanied by translators, interpreters, and photographers, insisted on all desks and safes being opened for them. Two auditors and a "Daily Herald" roporter were in the building when tho police arrived. They were detained a while with the rest. Every member of £ra*Uirt a' SearChCd and their P°ckets

An employee said: "The police even scrutinised a couple of dance tickets in my possession" It is reported that a number of rifles and lifo preserve™ wore found and confiscated. No arrests were made, but the name and ™-Ti eVo r- y person in tho building h? *ke <a\ £ lT VyMHwm Childs, of the special branch of Scotland Yard, Tho °"£aL T ancte.? th° I. f» i 7 i. R"^ understands that c found what ho set out to discover, but tho examination of tho documents Natnr,llv t h° CCUl? y a considerable- time.' tio>, II * «"" i 1" thC kCenost s Pecula" M a u'° Object of the soa«h. tio^hn ;>, w dCrS°n. iß t0 aska «J«m----re Ogard'.-n^he HS °f"OoBmOM to^

SUBVERSIVE PROPAGANDA. r-tl6 -iS i Relieved, »ays tho "Daily F£H CtoV, VolHkal correspondent that Arcos has been the means of limin aX?« r'iVß ?">?****&* in Brltnta. S^c=^KSrS^s tended with success. The Soviet Embassy at Chesham House informed the "Daily Express" gStion! lntore3tcd i» tho trade dele It is understood the police in Hi«

The headquarters of the Soviet in London have - been raided by a strong force of police under authority of the British Home Secretary, and a search made for documents. The Soviet Charge d'affaires in London has sent a most emphatic protest to Sir Austen Chamberlain pending instructions from Moscow. Questions were asked principally by. Labour members, in the House of Commons! The Home Secretary promised a full statement on Monday.'