ROYAL GUESTS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 10 September 1927, Page 11

ROYAL GUESTS

rpiTTC real guard for visiting royalty .is -*■ the systematic watch that is kept on every possibly dangerous organisation in England. This is not a new tiling. Thirty years '.ago, when the Internationale had its club and secret g!ou.ps centred behind Tottenham Court Road, some of the most violent members of these groups received police pay. not always from Britain. To-day the system is more far-reach-

ing. Our secret service lias its agents or informers in practically every violent revolutionary group in England. People likely to make trouble unknown, just as each class of thief is known to the 0.1. D. Their records are docketed and their faces are familiar to tiie men behind the scenes. Before any State visit to England our service gets in touch with the secret service of the other country, and learns what dangerous elements, if any might get here, who the men are behind thorn, whore they are, and what their appearance is. Suspicious nationals find the ports closed to them.

where t

ey were

HOW THEY ARE GUARDED

On the day of procession through London, any suspected man who iconics anywhere near the Royal visitor is kept under close watch. If he starts to make Double he is quietly, .swiftly, and effectively put on one .side.

Quite recently, on the occasion of a big Royal ceremony a violent Communist who had been waiting quietly among the spectators started to shout as the Royal carriage drew near. “This is what we want,” he cried, putting his hand into his inner breast pocket to pull out a red flag.

Before he had the flag half out, 'three men standing near turned on him. “You’ll get what you want,” said one, and three fists simultaneously struck his jaw. The man took no more interest in the proceedings. Now of course, these three men may have been loyal citizens suddenly moved by the same impulse, but it was a ieurk>us coincidence that they happened to be just