MONEY FROM MOSCOW

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 12 June 1928, Page 9

MONEY FROM MOSCOW

FOR BRITISH COMMUNISTS. TRANSACTIONS REVEALED. HOME SECRETARY’S STATEMENT

(By Official Wireless.) Received 2.15 p.m. to-day. RUGBY, June 11. Sir William Joynson-Hicks (Home Secretary) stated in _ the House of Commons to-day that inquiries brought to light two series of transactions which were undoubtedly the channel through, which Russian money, was supplied to the British Communist organisation during the period from July, 1927, to April, 1928. One seiies of transactions was carried out by a clerk in the foreign exchange department- of the Moscow Narodny Bank. Some of these transactions were known to the directors of the bank, since as a result- of the inquiry on April 20 the clerk concerned was dismissed from the bank. The total sum-s involved in these transactions from July to April amounted to £14,202. In a number of other transactions two other men were concerned, the total sum involved between July 5, 1927, and April 20, 1928, being at least £13,796. These two men were called before the board of the bank and, being unable to give a satisfactory explanation of their transactions, were dismissed. Between the three persons a total sum of not less- than £27,998 was disbursed during the period from July, 1927, to April 20, 1928. The directors of the Moscow Narodny Bank disclaimed all knowledge of the transaction, and had dismissed further members of the staff implicated in the matter.