Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-27
ASSASSINS' ASYLUM
GREAT BRITAIN'S PACT WITH
THE ANARCHISTS.
Soho In London a Refuge for the
Tribe From All Over
Europe.
From the Toronto Mall and Empire.

z
Every royal house but that of Britain has
supplied victim for the hate OF anarchists.
Two or three attempts upon the life OF
Queen Victoria made in the course OF
her long reign, but their authors were
lunatics. not the emissaries OF a secret
society. On one occasion King Edward
came within the shadow OF death when he
was travelling Prince of Wales In Bel
GUM. and though the would-be assassin
was an anarchist his deed universally
execrated by his colleagues in England.
Among them, and among the police OF all
nations. it Is an accepted fact that the Brit
| ish royal family is Immune.
Not the personality OF its members nor
the liberal Institutions Of England explain
the phenomenon. There is a taclt bargain
between the English authorities and the
anarchists who have made Soho the worlds
headquarters of anarchy. So long as the
assassins commit no outrages In Great
Britain they viii not be bounded by tho
police. and so long as they are not bounded
by the police they Will respect British pref
udtce against assassination. On neither side
is there any element OF gratitude II is
this bargain that is now denounced by the
secret services Of Spain. Italy, Russia and
other countries where the police and the
anarchists are engaged In an amending feud
that lasts from generation to generation.
Desperadoes in London
They declare that so long as London re-
mains an asylum for these desperadoes IL
is impossible TO defeat their plots Hunted
out of Naples or Vienna or Madrid. they
flee to London. where they FIRE to con-
spire against the governments OF the world.
For many years the English secret service
was able to keep a close watch on the for
eign anarchists, but OF late they have
spread all over. England. and are by no
means exclusively aliens. Many English
men have become tainted with the germ OF
anarchy, and the propaganda has ramifi-
cations beyond the practical knowledge of
the police. At one time It might have
been possible for the British government u
round up every anarchist in the country
and deport him No such drag net could
now be successfully cast
Inc Balfour government, however. real
lied the gravity of the situation and at
the last session of parliament bill was
passed enabling the authorities to deport
undesirable aliens. No anarchist hasten
ing from the scene of his crime TO London
would now be admitted. but would be hand
ed over to the police. What Britain has so
far refused to do is to surrender London
anarchists suspected of completely in for
eign plot. 1t is announced that there is to
be a conference on this subject, and with
out exception, every European power Will
urge the British government to adopt the
policy that prevails outside of England. In
dignation and horror at the Madrid outrage
may cause some change TO be made, al
though there are sound reasons for the
maintenance OF the present British policy
OF ignoring anarchists.
Difficulty of Conviction.
The best reason is that a change would
be Intellectual. AS already remarked. many
of the anarchists living in Great Britain
are unknown. Those who are known to the
police have no reason for conceaing their
opinions on government A crusade against
them would result In their denial of an
archistic sympathies. How is a man to be
convicted of opinions IL it is to his interest
to hide them? The most Jealous hunting
down OF suspects would not exterminate
the breed. and the attempt could only be
made by adopting a system of espionage
and terrorism that is repugnant to the
erage engliShman, however law abiding.
Nor can it be overlooked that anarchist
outrages invariably occur I'm those countries
where this system is I'm vogue. To inaugII-
rate IL in England would be to make the
British royal family a target for bombs.
If the continental system OF making war
on anarchists is to be adopted the CONT
mental system of guarding royalty must
also be imported. Otherwise successful as
saSsnation would be certain
AS It is now, the British police are often
able to supply valuable information TO their
colleagues in Germany, France, Italy and
Spain. They are supposed TO have been
aware of the plot at Madrid. although per-
haps ignorant of its details. STILL a Lon
don evening paper was able to announce
the existence of a plot day or so before
the outrage occurred This might have
been a lucky guess. for one might safely
predict a period of ferocous activity among
anarchists in the immediate future. IT -
well known that the nihilists claim great
credit for the dawn OF responsible govern
ment in Russia. In other countries where
real or imaginary wrongs remain 10 be re-
dressed the anarchists will be encouraged
by the boasting Of the assassins from 81.
Petersburg. Against the terror of bomb
and pistol 1t is almost impossible to guard,
so long the assassin is willing To die
with his victim. England viii do well 10
purchase immunity at the price she has al
ways paid When the anarchists break
faith will be the time to act