WITHDRAWAL OF WARRANTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19144, 9 October 1925, Page 9

WITHDRAWAL OF WARRANTS

COMMUNISTS IN ENGLAND. INTENDED COUP ABANDONED. ACUTE POSITION IN CABINET, i SCOTLAND YARD ANNOYED. ! 4 By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright, (Received 7.5 p.m.) A. and N.2. LONDON. Oct. 8. It was persistently reported last night that an acute position had arisen in the Cabinet through the sudden withdrawal of warrants, either for the arrest or the deportation of Communist leaders, It was announced early in September that the Home Secretary, Sir W. Joyn-son-Hicks. had been authorised to roundup those persons who were alleged to have been associated with the campaign to stir up dissension in the Army and Navy. In that connection the names of Mr. S. Saklatvala, Communist M.P. for Battersea North, and Mr. Tom Mann were mentioned. According to a story which was in circulation last night four warrants for arrest and at least 50 for deportations were issued. The Home Secretary was said to have ordered Scotland Yard to await his final instructions before acting. Heated Feelings Aroused. It was revealed at a meeting of the Cabinet yesterday that all the warrants had suddenly been cancelled, it is alleged, on Sir W. Joynson-Hicks' orders, notwithstanding that Scotland Yard had everything ready to complete the roundup of the Reds. It is stated that this change in policy was warmly debated at the meeting of the Cabinet. It is understood that Major-General Sir Borlase Childs, head of Scotland Yard, submitted a report to the Ministry outspokenly condemning the withdrawal ©f the warrants. He also even talked of resigning. The Labour paper, the Daily Herald, on the other hand, credits the Prime Minister, Mr. Stanley Baldwin, with having caused a split in the Cabinet by preventing Sir Joynson-Hicks from persisting in his plan for harrying the Reds. The paper definitely says the round-up orders were cancelled a week ago, "much to the annoyance of the foolish general who had brought so much contempt on Scotland Yard." Special Police Demobilised. The Herald adds: " Sir W. JoynsonHicks prepared a great coup last week. This was nothing less than tire wholesale arrests of Communists, in which connection Sir Borlase Childs and Sir Archibald Bodkin. Public Prosecutor, conferred. A special branch of Scotland Yard was mobilised, and leave was stopped. " The Yard waited for two days, when the spocial force was hastily demobilised, wondering what had happened. " What really happened was that the Home Secretary had received the opinion of the Prime Minister and the AttorneyGeneral. Mr. Baldwin said in effect: 'Do not be silly.' The AttorneyGeneral suggested that before arresting people it would be well to have some evidence. So the great coup was called off." The incident gives new significance to the pointed speech delivered at Liverpool by the Earl of Derby a few days ago. The Earl of Derby, in the course of the speech referred to in the message, said: " Speaking frankly as a candid friend of the Government, something is making the Conservatives uneasy." He unexpectedly continued: "If the Government had a mandate when it was elected it was not to remain for 25 years in Irak —it was for another purpose. Everybody supported the Conservatives. It was because they saw the head of communism being raised and attempts being made to Russianise Britain. Supporters wanted the Government to scotch any such attempts. I ask you what have you done about communism? I believe you have done something but, at present, I do not know what it is. If you have not the power to deal with communism make ft."