ORDERED BACK HOME.

Waikato Times, Volume 105, Issue 17611, 16 January 1929, Page 7

ORDERED BACK HOME.

LABOUR LEADERS HELD UP. WHILST GOING TO A CONFERENCE ACTION OF BELGIAN MINISTER. (Australian Press Association), LONDON, Jan. 15. A message from Ostend says that Mr J. Maxton, Labour M.P. for Bridgeton, Glasgow; Mr S- Saklatvala, Communist M.P. for Battersea North; and Mr Bridgeman, secretary of the League Against Imperialism, were going to attend a meeting of that organisation, when they were arrested by order of the Belgian authorities at Ostend. Mr A. J. Cook, general secretary of the Miners’ Federation, and Mr Alexander Gossip, secretary of the Furnishing Trades Union, were allowed lo proceed.

The Ostend correspondent of the British United Press Association says Messrs Maxton, Saklatvala and Bridgeman were detained by order of the Belgian Minister of Justice. They were admitted to parole and spent the night at the Atlantic Hotel. All three were ordered to take the first steamer back to England to-day. No reason was given for this action.

LATER. THE BAN WITHDRAWN. 'JOURNEY RESUMED. PAPERS NOT IN ORDER. (Received Jan. 16, 10.15 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 15. “Following full examination of their papers Messrs Saklatvala, Maxton and Bridgeman were permitted to continue their journey to Cologne. The Ministry of Justice announces that they were detained because their papers were not in order, and because it was believed that the meeting of the League of Anti-Imperialism was to be held in Belgium.

SAKLATVALA ANGRY. SIR A. CHAMBERLAIN BLAMED. (Received Jan. 16, 10.55 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 15. “Sir Austin Chamberlain is to blame for this,” declared Mr Saklatvala.” We were given the option of spending the night on the quayside in a police lockup or a hotel. We chose the latter. I protest strongly against the unconsti-. tutional methods by which armed men forcibly took our passports and rail-' way tickets and baggage, and will insist on being allowed to proceed to Germany. The British Foreign Office must have influenced the Belgian Foreign Office. We have been fighting for open seaports, and shall now’ light for open rail roads.”