BOLSHEVIK EMISSARY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18674, 2 October 1922, Page 6

BOLSHEVIK EMISSARY

When the steamer Hobson's Bay left Melbourne on September 6 for Great Britain there was on board the vessel a notorious Bolshevist propagandist, who is being deported from Australia. The Russian has made two visits to Australia, and on each occasion he has been deported. It is stated that he first arrived in Australia in 1911, and during his stay was active in revolutionary movements. He was closely associated with the One Big Union Propaganda League. He was deported from Sydney on April 17, 1919, and returned to Moscow. Ho was then given a secret mission from Moscow, and visited the United States and Canada on a propaganda mission. He succeeded later in obtaining a passport fiom the Norwegian Consul at Vancouver under the name of a Norwegian subject, some of whose letters and papers were in his possession. Ho appeared to be well supplied with funds, and, it is stated, there is ample evidence to show that he spent money lavishly. He came from New Zealand to Sydney, and afterwards to Melbourne, where he immediately took uu propaganda work under another name. He gave lectures before many meetings of Communists, and ha was , proved to be a dangerous propagandist. While he was in Australia, it is asserted, he advocated, among other things, the burning of buildings, the cutting of telephone lines, and shooting. He was, it is alleged, one of the armed Russians who took an active part in 'the conflict in Brisbane in 1919, when _ returned soldiers were fired on. The foreigner was arrested in Melbourne on August 9. He admitted that, he used many aliases, and confessed his identity. On August 17 he was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment, and ordered for the second time to be deported. Under the law, however, he was able to claim release on finding two bondsmen to guarantee £SO each, and undertaking that he would leave the country within a month. The bondsmen were immediately forthcoming, and the Russian left on the Hobson's Bay. When the vessel was ready to leave Port Melbourne the Soviet disciple produced a red flag, which he waved, and made a speech in Russian to iiis friends on the pier, who appeared to be greatly impressed with his remarks. It is understood that the man was not the only agent of Moscow in Australia amply provided with funds. Others, it is believed, are there at present. When the steamer arrived at Fremantle a passenger, alleged to have been travelling on a passport issued in the name of Stanley George Stetler, secretary of the Communist party of New South Wales, was removed from the vessel. The passport had been cancelled by the Federal authorities when it ws ascertained that it was not being used by the person to whom it was issued. Mr J. S. Garden, secretary of the Sydney Trades Hall Council, who is also a passenger bv the steamer, forwarded a telegram to the Prime Minister (Hr Hughes) stating that Stetler'a passport had been cancelled, and asking that he be granted permission to proceed to Europe. Mr Hughes, however, having been informed that the bearer of the passport was not Stetler, declined to accede to the request. Mr Garden is going to Moscow to attend a conference on behalf of the United Communist Party of Australia. When it became known tbat another passenger on the Hobson’s Bay was travelling ns Stanley George Stetler, inquiries were instituted, and Stetler was discovered to be still in Sydney. The passport was immediately cancelled. It is understood that proceedings will be taken against the man carrying it.