NOTORIOUS RED ARRESTED BY VIENNA POLICE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18451, 30 April 1928, Page 10

NOTORIOUS RED ARRESTED BY VIENNA POLICE.

FORMER DICTATOR CAUGHT PLOTTING. * (United Press Assn.—By Klectric Telegraph.—Copyright.) VIENNA. April 28. The notorious Communist Bela Kun has been arrested. He arrived from Russia on a political mission, and, it is alleged, under the name of a business firm took an office in which he and friends of the Hungarian party met. Bela Kun refused to give information concerning the object of his stay. When the police investigations are concluded he will be charged with being a member of a secret society and returning to Austria contrary to orders. Bela Kun never renounced his Hungarian citizenship. As soon as it was ascertained that he was again in Vienna the police placed secret surveillance upon him and discovered that he had opened a political propaganda bureau, masquerading as a commercial firm. He had meetings with Hungarian refugees and other Communist agitators. Another man from Russia, named L>ippai, was arrested simultaneously. It is believed that it was intended that Lippai was to replace Eugene Landler, leader of the Hungarian refugees, who died recently. Bela Kun's girl secretary and five others also were arrested. It is understood that Hungary has asked for Bela Kun's extradition, on the ground that he is a multiple murderer. because he ordered so many executions while virtually dictator of Hungary. According to the newspapers. Bela Kun went to Vienna on behalf of the Moscow Internationale, in order to reorganise the r Hungarian Communist Party. The polite discovered in his room plans for a Soviet republic in Hungary and Bolshevik propaganda for distribution in the Balkans. —Australian Press Association. The Austro-Hungarian Empire was broken up by the revolution of October 31 1918. and King Charles of Austria abdicated on November 13. On November 16 a Hungarian republic was proclaimed, but on March 22, 1919, the Communists took charge, with Bela Kun as dictator. An opposition Government was soon set up at Arad and Szeged, which, with the assistance of the Rumanian Army, swept away the Soviet Government, and on August 7 a Nationalist Government was again in the capital.