SOVIET EMBASSY RAID

Taranaki Daily News, 8 April 1927, Page 7

SOVIET EMBASSY RAID

THE OFFICIAL DETAILS. MANY ARRESTS EFFECTED. Received April 7, 8.30 p.m. Shanghai, April 7. Official details of the raid on the Soviet Embassy at Peking, show that secret agents of Chang-Tso-Lin have investigated the source of radical propaganda emanating from Peking for months past. This culminated in the arrest of two Americans, the trial of whom is held over pending the result of other investigations. Chang-Tso-Lin has appealed to the Foreign Ministers, comprising the diplomatic corps, to curb the activities of Peking Communists sheltering in the Legation quarter. Permission was asked to enter, and granted, in contravention of diplomatic etiquette. Acting, on this perfcission, 100 Chinese police, personally commanded by the chief of police and 200 Chinese soldiers from Chang-Tso-Lin’s body guard, surrounded the Russian Embassy grounds on three sides simultaneously. The British troops, with fixed bayonets and loaded rifles, appeared at the British Legation wall on the fourth side.

Without hesitation, the Chinese forced an entry into the Embassy, searched all in residence thoroughly, arresting all found on the premises. The first building entered was the former Rusisan garrison where the searchers met with resistance. A shot was fired from within. The searchers emerged dragging a Russian kicking and fighting. Other searchers discovered two machine guns, 15 rifles and small arms anxl two Red flags. The Russian was handcuffed and dragged into th 0 street. Meantime other prisoners emerged quietly and drove off in automobiles.

The fighting Russian refused to enter an automobile, his struggles attracting a crowd, which were batoned away, assisted by foreigners. The episode produced the wildest scenes in the Legation quarter, and the mobs were dispersed with the greatest difficulty. The search of the Embassy was continued, and the officials were ordered to remain in their offices. A fire, which broke out in the main building, apparently to destroy important documents, was soon extinguished. After six hours’ searching, 64 were arrested, handcuffed and incarcerated, including the Soviet Charge d’Affaires. Meantime five trucks of documentary data and other material was removed, including seals inscribed “Peking branch of the Koumintang political committee of the Kirin, Shansi, Kansu and Chisli provinces.” The arrested include six women, all of whom were detained at the metropolitan police board while the search of the Embassy was continuing. Staff experts, convened by headquarters

to examine th e seized documents, have reported that the exact documents required have not been found. Rceived April 7, 10.30 p.m. London, April 6. In order to avoid misconception it is semi-officially explained that the Russian Embassy at Peking was not invaded. The building was raided in the Embassy grounds and, as it- was necessary to traverse the grounds to reach the building, the diplomatic corps granted permission for that purpose.