New Britain herald., 1927-05-13
LONDON RAID MAY
 BE IMPORTANT ONE
Investigation of Soviet House.
 Not Completed

London. May 13 OP-Soviet House, in London's historic financial district remained in the hands of the police today after the raid carried out there yesterday afternoon. The under standing today was that the task of the police was not nearly complete. although there were earlier rumors that they had achieved the main purpose of the raid. This purpose has not been made known to the public, and consequently there was much speculation. The general be- lief, however. was that it was im- portant from a political standpoint. and might. perhaps. lead to sev- erance of relations between Great Britain and Russia.
 In the course of the raid, carried out by 60 uniformed policemen un- der the direction of Scotland Yard men. the offices of Arcos. Ltd, des- cribed as the "sole selling and pur- chasing agency in Great Britain for the union of Socialist Soviet repub- lies" were occupied. as we'll as the
 
 ton.
 May Seek Proof
 Some quarters suggest that the raid indicates the government yield ed to the persistent cry of its more extreme followers. turn out the reds" and was seeking to find in- controvertible proof of Bolshevik propaganda amounting to political plotting against the British state. but tho suggestion is not widely favored. Another supposition featured in some of tho newspapers with considerable has possession of an important secret British state document-stolen, ac- cording to some reports-which IS the object of the hunt
 Pending an official statement, which some believed would be forth coming today, the public must ap- parently be satisfied to keep on gues- sing. It is possible the government will remain silent until Monday. us- ing tho interval to make thorough examination of the documents seized by the police.
 A. P. Rosengolz. Russian charge d. affaires in London, visited the lobby of the house of commons last night and talked with the labor leaders, after which Arthur Henderson gave notification that he would ask the government in the commons today the reason for the raid. The home secretary can. if he wishes, avail himself of the custom that absolves ministers from answering questions on Fridays.
 The raid was carried out with search warrant issued by Guildhall magistrate. The petition was made by officials who presented evidence with which to convince the magis- trate that violation of the countrys laws was involved, and that there- fore drastic action was deemed nec- essary in the interest of public safe ty.
 No Political Significance.
 Scotland Yard officials, when questioned as to whether the raid had any bearing upon the raid on the societ embassy compound in Picking, carried out by the northern Chinese authorities, declared that 1t was absolutely without political sig niflcance. It had been brought about, they said, by evidence in the hands of the authorities. which convinced them they were justified in seeking a police search warrant for the en- tire building.
 The police stated that while searching some of the rooms. they smelled smoke, later finding paper ashes. Reports reached them. they added, that a number of documents were burned when the raid started. This. however. was denied by the trade delegation officials. who em- 'phasized that the police were vel come to see every paper and docu- ment in their possession.
 Furthermore they would have been glad to have saved the police trouble by granting them free access to the building had they requested it.
 In a statement to the Associated Press. the London office Of the Rus sian News Agency, Tass, declared