THE SOVIET RAID

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20101, 18 May 1927, Page 9

THE SOVIET RAID

POLICE SEARCH OF ARCOS. QUESTIONS IN THE HOUSE. HOME SECRETARY'S STATEMENT. MISSING DOCUMENT NOT FOUND. (Ties* Association—By Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, May 16. Sir W. Joynson-Hicks (Home Secretary), on entering the House of Commons, was received with prolonged Ministerial cheers and ironical Labour cheers. Replying to questions, the Home Secretary said that about 250 persons were found on the premises of Arcos. He was not yet able to particularise their nationalities. Sir L. WorthingtonEvans (Secretary of State for War) on Wednesday last sent him information which satisfied him that a certain offici il document was (or had been) in the possession of persons employed on the Arcos promises. The document bore on its

face the fact that it was the property of the British Government and that it was not to be circulated, directly or indirectly, to the press. It was a document of which it was known that unauthorised

persons were attempting to gain copies. Sir W. Joynson-Hicks added: “In view of this information I consulted Mr Baldwin and Sir Austen Chamberlain, and with their knowledge I authorised the police to apply for a search warrant under the Official Secrets Act. The building was shared by Arcos and the Russian Trade Delegation. There was free intercommunication throughout the building. The search was carried out in strict conformity with the warrant. I am informed that the search only ended on Sunday at midnight. The document in question was not found. The police took

possession of certain papers, an examination of which is proceeding.” Replying to Mr A. Henderson '(Labour), the Home Secretary said he hoped to be able to make a fuller statement in the course of a few days. If the Opposition desired to question the conduct of himself and the Government, the usual means were open to it.

Mr Lloyd George said that, whether the document was found or not, it was a grave matter, and ought to be discussed. Mr G. Lansbury (Labour) asked: “Does Sir W. Joynson-Hicks definitely state that the missing document was stolen by someone connected with Arcos?” Sir W. Joynson-Hicks replied: "I said I was satisfied that the document had certainly been in the possession of Arcos.” At question time Mr Godfrey LockerLampson (Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs) said that in the trade agreement with the Soviet Government the latter recognised Russia’s debts to Britain, but later it issued a statement that it did not consider itself bound by the agreement. Neither the Russian Trade Delegation in London nor its staff or the premises had enjoyed diplomatic immunity, but they enjoyed certain privileges mentioned in the trade agreement. An official wireless message from Rugby adds that the Home Secretary promised to make a fuller statement on Thursday, and to give an opportunity for debate if so desired. He denied that any woman was searched. Only the handbags of the female employees were searched. He said he was satisfied that the missing official document was in.the Arcos building before he applied for a search warrant. — A. and N.Z. and Sydney Sun Cable.

INCONCLUSIVE RESULTS. SENSATIONAL REPORTS CISCOUNTED. RUSSIANS DEMAND EXPLANATION. LONDON, May 16. (EeceTved May 17, at 8 p.rn.) It is expects dthat Arcos will resume business to-day following the police evacuation last night. M. Sorokin, the acting chairman, has sent" a letter to the Home Secretary asking—first. What were the allegations upon which this extraordinary action was taken; secondly, What has been removed from the building; and, thirdly, “What complaints, if any, cam you make against us as a result of the inspection of the premises and papers?” < Thus far the public is as much in the dark on thess points as Arcos is. It is generally agreed that Sir W. JoynsonHicka’s statement in the House gave no enlightenment regarding the papers, and it is hoped that more information will be given on Thursday. The Morning Post pays that there is good reason to suppose that the secret document which was the main object of the search was destroyed while the police were endeavouring to obtain access to a particular room. The Daily Express states that all that is certain is that the many circumstantial reports purporting to reveal sensational discoveries are unfounded. The paper understands from a high authority that the police have not found anything which could be described as a complete list of Red agents, nor have they discovered evidence of sums of money paid to British agitators by Moscow during the general strike. The reported discovery of banknotes, passports, and documents concerning the visit of President Doumergue is also declared to be completely inaccurate. —A. and N.Z. Cable. REPORTED NOTE FROM MOSCOW'. MOSCOW, May 16. (Received May 17, at 10 p.m.) It is reported that the Soviet is sending a Note to Britain to-day on the subject of the Arcos raid.—A.P.A. and Sydney Sun Cable. POLICE COMPLETE SEARCH. LONDON, May 16. The police evacuated the Arcos building at 6 o’clock this evening, and the caretaker immediately locked the gates.— Sydney Sun Cable.