§ 31. Mr. R. Edwardsasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that on 15th February police officers in the Colony of Aden raided the premises of the following organisations, namely, the Aden Trade Union Congress, the Itthad-el-Yameni, headquarters of the People's Socialist Party, the Al-Bath Printing Press, and the Arab Reform Club, causing inconvenience to the members of the organisations concerned; and what were the reasons for these actions.
§ Mr. FisherYes, Sir. This search was carried out to collect evidence concerning a pamphlet considered to be seditious.
§ Mr. EdwardsIs the hon. Gentleman aware that these raids were carried out 1072 during a religious period in Aden and that they upset the whole of the Moslem community? Is he also aware that operating in Aden is the Yemeni Royalist movement which is recruiting guerrillas to fight against the Yemeni Republican Government, yet no action is taken against organisations of that nature?
§ Mr. FisherI think that the latter part of that supplementary question had very little to do with the original Question. This search was carried out to try to identify the authors of this seditious pamphlet, many copies of which were found. It was carried out with proper authority issued by a magistrate, and I have no further comments to make about it.