RAIDED SOVIET BUILDING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19607, 8 April 1927, Page 11

RAIDED SOVIET BUILDING.

SENSATION AT PEKING. NUMEROUS ARRESTS MADE. RUSSIAN FIGHTS CAPTORS. WILD SCENES IN STREET. BATONS TO DISPERSE MOB. By Teleerapb—Press Association —Copyright (Received April 7, 5.5 p.m.) A. and N.Z. SHANGHAI. April 6. Official details of the raid on the building attache*. to the Soviet Embassy at Peking yesterday are now available. .These show that secret agents of Marshal Chang Tso-lin, the Northern war-lord, investigated the sources of radical propaganda which had been emanating from Peking for months. The inquiries culminated in the arrest of "two American journalists, the trial of whom is pending. As a result of further investigations Chang appealed to the foreign Ministers who comprise the diplomatic corps to curb the activities of the Peking Communists who were sheltering in the Legation quarter. Permission was asked to enter the quarters and this was granted, in contravention of diplomatic etiquette. Acting on this permission 100 Chinese police, under the personal command of the Chief of Police, and 200 Chinese soldiers from Chang's bodyguard surrounded the grounds of the Russian Embassy on three sides. Simultaneously British troops with fixed bayonets and loaded rifles appeared on the wall of the British Legation on the fourth side. Forced Entry Arouses Mobs. Without hesitation the Chinese police forced an entry to the Embassy. They searched the residential quarters thoroughly and arrested all the persons found within. The first building entered was the former Russian garrison. The searchers met with resistance and a shot was iired from within.. The Chinese emerged dragging a Russian, who was kicking and fighting. Other Chinese' discovered two machine-guns, 15 rifles, some small arms and two red flags. The Russian was handcuffed outside and dragged through the street. Other prisoners emerged quietly and were cfriven away in motor-cars. The fighting Russian refused to enter a car. This attracted a crowd, which had to be dispersed with batons by the police assisted by foreigners. The episode resulted in very wild scenes in the Legation quarter and the mobs were dispersed with the greatest difficulty. Important Documents Not Found. The search inside the Embassy was then continued. The Russian officials were ordered to remain in their offices. A fire broke out in the main building. Apparently it was intended to destroy important documents. The flames were soon extinguished. After six hours' search 64 persons were j arrested, handcuffed and incarcerated. They included the Soviet Charge d 'Affaires. Five trucks filled with documentary data and other material were removed. The articles seized included seals inscribed: "Peking branch of the Kuomintang Political Committee of the Kirin, Shansi, Kansu, and Chihli provinces." The persons arrested included six women. All were detained at the Metropolitan Police Board's station. The search of tiie Embassy is being con- ! tinued. A staff of experts is engaged at police headquarters in examining the seized documents. It is reported that the exact documents which it was desired to obtain wore not found. STOEY QUESTIONED. BRITISH OFFICIAL VIEW. SOME MISTAKE AS TO FACTS. A. and N.Z. LONDON, April 0. The foreign Office has not received confirmation of the raid on the Soviet Embassy at Peking. In official circles the truth of the report is questioned, and the suggestion that the diplomatic corps gave specific authorisation for the raid is doubted. It is stated that ordinarily no warrants could be executed within international settlements in China without a diplomat's signature, which in ordinary circumstances would automatically be granted. Otherwise criminals • could very easily find sanctuary in the settlements and defy the police. But in view of the present disturbed conditions it is considered that the diplomatic • corps would be sure to carefully scrutinise every request, all the Powers being equally anxious to avoid the appearance of partisanship. It is unofficially suggested that most probably an application was made to raid some buiJding where Russians were housed. In that case the diplomats would have felt bound to consent to an act which the Chinese authorities had represented as essential, but it is thought very doubtful that they would consent to a deliberate raid on the Russian Embassy. 1 DIPLOMATS' ACTION. SEMI-OFFICIAL ACCOUNT. POSITION OF THE BUILDING. # (Received April 7, 10.10 p.m.) Times. LONDON, April 6. In order to avoid misconception it is semi-officially explained that the Russian Embassy at Peking was not technically invaded nor was the building which was raided in the grounds of the Embassy, It was necessary to traverse the grounds to reach the building and the diplomatic corps granted permission for that to be done. ARMS FOE CHINESE. NO GERMAN SHIPMENTS. s AGREEMENT TO REFUSE. A. and N.Z. BERLIN, April 6. The Association of German Shipowners ; and the East Asian Union have decided not to accept shipments of war material destined for China. ,