DOCUMENT NOT FOUND

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19843, 18 May 1927, Page 7

DOCUMENT NOT FOUND

DETAILS OP THE SEARCH. OTHER PAPERS TAKEN POSSESSION or. (A and N.Z.i LONDON, May 16. Sir W. Joynsoa Hicks, on entering the Hour of Commons to make a statement On the laid on the Arcus building, received prolonged Ministerial and iron.cal Labour cheers. Replying to questions, he said that about 250 persons had been found on the premises of Arcos. He had not yet been able to particularise their nationalities. Replying to Air Arthur Henderson, tho Home Secretary said he hoped to make a I fuller statement in a few days. If the the Opposition desired to question the conduct of himself and the Government, the usual means were open. Mr Lloyd George said that whether the documents were round or not, n was a grave matter, and ought to be discussed. Mr Lansbury 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 the document had certainly been in possession of Arcos.” The Agreement. At question time, Mr Locker-Lamp-son said that in the Trade Agreement with the Soviet Government the latter recognised its debts to Britain, but later issued a statement that they did consider themselves bound by the agreement. Neither the Russian Trade Delegation in London, nor its staff or the premises had enjoyed diplomatic immunity, but they enjoined certain privileges mentioned in the Trade Agreement. Sir William Joyson Hicks, making his statement, said: “Information sent to me on Wednesday last by the Secretary for War satisfied me that a certain official documents was or had been, ' improperly in I tho possession of a person employed in the premises of Arcos. The document bore on its face a statement that ■ it was the property of his • Majesty’s Gov- ■ ernment and , was not to be circulated either directly or indirectly, to the Press or anv person not holding an.official position in his Majesty’s Service. It was, in fact, a document which unauthorised persons were known to be attempting U) obtain copies of.

"In view of that information I consulted the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary, and with their knowledge and consent, I authorised the police to apply to a Magistrate for a warrant under the Official Secrets Act to search the premises of Arcos. The building is shared by Arcos and th© Russian Trade Delegation, and there is free inter-communiction throughout the building. The warrant accordingly authorised a search of the premises occupied by Arcos and the Trade Delegation.

"The search only came to an end at 12 o clock last night. The document in question was not found, but the police have taken possession of certain papers and an examination of these papers is still proceeding.” Referring to a large number of questions from Labour members, the Home Secretary promised to make a fuller statement on Thursday and to give an opportunity for a debate if desired. He denied that any woman was searched. Only the handbags of the female employees were searched. He was satisfied that the missing documents were in the Arcos building before he applied for the search warrant.