SOVIET PROPAGANDA

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 May 1927, Page 6

SOVIET PROPAGANDA

LONDON OFFICE RAIDED

DRAMATIC POLICE-STROKE

(Australian & N.Z. Cable Assn.) (Ry Cable —Press Assn. —Copyrigbt.)

LONDON, May 13.

The City of London had its greatest sensation in recent years yesterday, when the police raided the palatial building in Moorgate Street which is wholly devoted to the offices of Arcos, Ltd., and to the Russian Trade Delegation.

The raid was begun at 4.30 o’clock in the afternoon, and lhe police remained in possession of the building all night. Their search and examination of documents found will continue to-day. About 108 uniformed policemen and between 30 and 40 detectives participated in the operations. The official staff of Arcos, Ltd., and of the Russian Trade Delegation are believed to total about four hundred persons. The majority of them are Russians and the remainder are Britishers.

The first action of the police was to disconnect the telephones of the building.' The police then separated the men from the women in the place, but they released the women in bhtches after examining their handbags. The male employees were detained by the police until 9.30 o’clock at night. They were formed into a long queue on the staircase, and they filed into the street between detectives, who three times checked their names and addresses before, the men reached the door. The main body of the police then departed, while the majority of Hie detectives left just before midnight. The great building remains in charge of a small body of police detectives and a. few officials who volunteered to stay. Every nook and corner of the. building is being searched. The detectives were accompanied by translators, interpreters' and photographers. They insisted on all the desks and safes being opened for them. There were two auditors and a Daily Herald (Labour) reporter in the building when the police arrived. They were also detained for a. while with the rest. Every member of the staff was searched, and their pockets were turned out.

THOROUGH POLICE MEASURES

LONDON, May 13

In making* the raid, the crowd of uniformed and plain-clothed constables suddenly jumped from motorcars and swarmed through the doors of the house in detachments. They raced to the back to guard every exit. Squads of police were placed in position shoulder to shoulder at every door, until there was a cordon of police drawn completely round the premises. The traffic thereabouts was diverted no one on any pretext being allowed to leave or to enter the building.

Arcos. Limited, hitherto has enjoyed diplomatic immunity, but recently it has been subjected to police inquiry. The raid was continued until late this evening, when a. number of the Arcos, Limited, employees were escorted from the premises by plain clothes' policemen and were driven away in motor-cars.

OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS STOLEN

LONDON, May .13

There is naturally the keenest speculation as to the object of the police search at Soviet House. Mr. Arthur Henderson is asking a question as to what was the object in the House of Commons to-day. . It is believed, says the Daily Chronicle’s political correspondent, that Arcos Limited, has been the means of financing subversive propaganda in Britain. Another theory, however, is that important secret official documents were stolen, and were believed to bo in the possession of persons connected with Arcos Limited. At any rate, whatever the object was, it is stated that last night’s search has been attended with success.

The Daily Mail in a leading article says:—There is every possible justification for the raid. The wonder is that it was so long delayed, after open, impudent intervention of Soviet agents during the general and coal strikes, and Moscow’s systematic, malicious anti-British propaganda in China, and incitement to organised mobs to rob and murder foreigners there. The country will welcome the Government’s vigour, especially if it means turning out Moscow plotters bag and baggage. At present there is no information regarding any documents being discovered which may provide the names of any extremists in Britain in the pay of Moscow, or show how money was used to stir up strikes.

THE OBJECT ACHIEVED

LONDON, May 13

Sir Wyndham Childs, of the Special Branch of Scotland Yard, personally conducted operations during the raid. 'Pho Daily Express says it understands that he found what he sot out to discover, but it adds that the examination of the documents is likely to occupy a considerable time. The Daily Telegraph’s political correspondent learns that the object of the police search is the recovery of some official documents. It is understood that the police, in the early stages of the raid, encountered some resistance, the keys of some safes in vaults being refused, and it is also stated attempts were made to burn certain documents. The Daily Mail says: The search extended to midnight. This is said to be due to the fact of certain State documents being missing, which documents may be in the possession of the Russians. The police occupation of the place is likely to last for several days. Russians attempted to burn certain papers, but the police prevented this. 150,000 DOCUMENTS SEIZED. • LONDON, May 13. The raid on the Arcos Company’s premises was undertaken by Sir William Joynson Hicks, at the instance of the police heads, in connection with alleged political propaganda. The preparations of the police, which were most elaborate, included a force of detectives, who were working in disguise on some roofs of places opposite to the Arcos buildings for several days previously. The documents that, have been seized by the police are so elaborate that

the police, after several hours’ work, secured fifty more helpers. The police have confiscated 150,000 documents and also a number of rifles and lifepreservers.

There were huge crowds in the streets, who watched the proceedings. Many in the crowds were wearing red rosettes.

In the vaults of the building a number of large safes were seized, for which keys have not been forthcoming. The police carefully searched the several hundred men and women employees, who finally were permitted to leave, after being detained for sveral hours. After the raid an employee said: “The police even scrutinised a couple of dance tickets in my possession.”

A “PRIVATE CONCERN.”

LONDON, May 13

The Soviet Embassy at Chesham House informed the “Daily Express” that. Arcos Ltd., is a private trading corporation. It lias nothing to do with the Soviet Government, but it is admittedly interested in the Russian Trade Delegation. The “Financial Times” says: Arcos Company, Ltd., has a capital of one million sterling, of which £900,000 is unpaid. The Company acts as merchants’ agents for the Soviet Government, and it also assumes the responsibility towards the British suppliers for the goods sold to the Soviet customers. and also on behalf of the Russian customers, it selects their British con trading firms. The “Daily News” says: Arcos. Limited, and its subsidiary Companies employ 1215 hands, including four hundred Russians. Only M. Khinkhuk the successor to M. Krassin as Soviet representative in Britain, enjoys diplomatic immunity from arrest, or search, ami the liberty to communicate with the Soviet in cipher, and to receive sealed mail bags.

The Arcos Company is understood to have purchased the offices, which are elaborately fitted, at an expenditure approaching one million pounds. The offices consist of a five-storeyed building, containing hundreds of rooms.

SOVIET MAKES PROTEST.

LONDON, May 13

The Soviet Embassy decided formally to protest against the raid. The Charge d’Affaires (Rosengolz) visited the Foreign Office at noon and remained with Sir A. Chamberlain for thirty minutes. It is understood that he lodged a protest.

QUESTIONS IN COMMONS.

LABOUR ATTITUDE CRITICISED

LONDON, May 13

As soon as the Speaker took the chair, Air Henderson asked. Was the Arcos raid on the Home Secretary’s authority, and for what reason? Sir W. Joynson Hicks said that as the result of information given to him on Wednesday, he authorised the application of a search warrant, the execution of which was progressing. He could not supply further information vet.

Air Henderson : Will you on Monday? You must recognise that the House as a whole regards the action as serious matter. It is of public importance and should not stand over too long. Sir AV. J. Hicks: The police are still in possession, and the search is going on. I will give any posible information on Monday. , Commander Kenworthy: You haven’t answered whether the Soviet delegation was raided, whether the head of it had written diplomatic immunity, or whether the raid was after consultation of the Cabinet. Sir AV. J. Hicks: I could not say what portion of the building was occupied bv the trade delegation. The decision to raid rested with the Secretary of State, as an ordinary police matter, not with the Cabinet. Air Hudson: Is it true that the Russian Charge d’Affaires came to the Labour Whip’s office, instead of going to the Foreign Office? Air Henderson said it was true that the Charge d’Affairos ha.l. consulted him, and had done everything he possibly could before he went to get the judgment of the Foreign Secretary. Air Hudson : Wasn’t the visit of the Charge d’Affaires to consult the Labour Executive a gross breach of diplomatic etiouette? Sir AV.’ J. Hicks : That question, should be addressed to Sir A. Chamberlain. Air Heneage : Isn’t it clear from the Opposition questions that the Labour Partv are friends with any country except their own ? Sir .1. Davison : Wasn’t the British Embassy at St. Petersburg raided in 1918?—No compensation has been paid. Ai r Thurtle : Is Sir AV. J. Hicks aware that there are two separate organisations in the Arcos building, one diplomaticaly immune. Did lie authorise a search of both ? Sir J. Davison : Is Sir AA . J. Hicks aware that nobody knows where the Third Internationa J ends and the Soviet begins? Sir AV. J. Hicks said lie could not further discuss the subject till Alondav. ,