RED ROUND-UP

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 9 October 1925, Page 5

RED ROUND-UP

ORDERS CANCELLED.

last minute change.

TROUBLE IN CABINET REPORTED

6Y CABLE-PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. LONDON, Oct. 7. It is persistently reported to-night .that an acute position has arisen in Cabinet over the sudden withdrawal of warrants for either the arrest ox deportation of Communist leaders. It was announced early in September that Sir W. Joynson-Hieks (Home Secretary) had authorised a round-up of those' alleged to be associated in the campaign to stir up dissension in the army and the navy. In this connection the names of Mr S. Saklatvala, M.P., and Mr Tom Mann were mentioned.

According to to-night’s story warrants for four arrests and at least fifty deportations were issued, with the Home Secretary’s order to Scotland Yard to await final instructions before acting. It was revealed at the Cabinet meeting to-day that all the warrants had been suddenly cancelled, allegedly on Sir W. Joynson-Hieks’ orders, notwithstanding that Scotland Yard had everything ready for. a complete Red round-up. It is stated that the change of policy was warmly debated in Cabinet. It is understood that Major-General Sir Wyndham Childs, head of Scotland Yard, submitted a report to Cabinet, condemning in outspoken terms the withdrawal of the warrants; also that he even talked of resigning. The Daily Herald (the Labour paper) on the other hand editorially credits the Prime Minister (Mr Stanley Baldwin) .with causing a Cabinet split by preventing Sir W. Joynson-Hieks from persisting in his plan for harrying the Reds. The article says the round-up orders were cancelled last week, “much to the annoyance of the foolish general who brought so much contempt upon Scotland Yard.” The whole incident gives new significance to Lord Derby’s pointed speech at Liverpool on Monday. The Daily Herald states that Sir W. Joynson-Hieks prepared a great' coup last week, being nothing less than the wholesale arrests of Communists, whereon Sir Wyndham Childs and Sir Archibald Bodkin (Director of Public Prosecutions) conferred. A special' branch of Scotland Yard was mobilised and leave was stopped. -The Yard waited for two days, when it was hastily demobilised, wondering what had happened. The Herald says what really happened was that Sir W.. Joynson-Hieks received the opinions of the Prime Minister and the Attorney-General. Mr Baldwin said in effect: “Don’t be silly.” The Attorney-General suggested that before arresting people it would be as well to have some evidence, so that the great coup was called off.