ACCUSED IN TOKIO

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 251, 31 July 1940, Page 6

ACCUSED IN TOKIO

DRAMATIC ACTION FORECAST. POSSIBLE JOINING OF AXIS. HINT OF RUSSIAN AGREEMENT. United Press Association. —Copyright.) (Received This Day, 10.10 a.m.) SHANGHAI, July 30. „ Neutral diplomats are of opinion that the arrests in Tokio foreshadow dramatic action by the Japanese, possibly joining the Axis in the war against Britain. Neutrals have not had specific information, but it is said that high Japanese Army officials privately state that Japan might agree to territorial concessions to Russia guaranteeing the security of Vladivostock in exchange for a free hand in expansion southward.

BRITAIN’S SERIOUS VIEW. STRONG REPRESENTATIONS. (Received This Day, 9.5 a.m.) LONDON, July 30 It is authoritatively stated that the British Ambassador (Sir Robert Craigie), in an interview with the Japanese Foreign Minister (Mr Massuoka) yesterday in regard to the arrest of 12 British nationals, stressed the serious view held in Britain and perhaps elsewhere of the incident having political implications apart from any technical charges. ' It is authoritatively stated that Sir Robert Craigie gave explicit assurances that the British community in Japan have no political organisations. He pointed out that there was a strong, efficient Nazi party organisation. Mrs Cox denied that her husband was engaged in espionage. He had merely been doing the regular work of a foreign correspondent. The Shanghai correspondent of “The Times” says that a British subject, Mr L. T. Woolley, who is a member of the Asiatic Petroleum Company, has been detained at Kobe.

The Japanese Ministry of Education is reported to he planning to replace 500 alien instructors with Japanese, owing to the “discovery of the British espionage network|” There will be stricter supervision of missionaries.

FOREIGN SECRETARY’S STAND. NO FOUNDATION FOR CHARGES. JAPANESE VIEW! REJECTED. • (Received This Day, 9.5 a.m.) LONDON, July 30. In a statement in the House of Lords on the ajrrest of British subjects in Japan, Viscount Halifax, who had this morning received the Japanese Ambassador in London, said it was hardly necessary to state that there was no foundation whatsoever for the allegation by the Japanese Government, implicit in joint announcement of the Minister of War and Justice, connecting the arrest with “increasing activities of foreign organs of espionage and conspiracy” in Japan. Lord Halifax went on to refer further to the Japanese announcement on the circumstances of the death of Mr Cox. Lord Halifax said: “The announcement states that in the light of a note addressed to his wife, which was discovered on his person, ‘ it seems that with the progress of the investigation deceased became aware that he could not escape conviction.’ His Majesty’s Government is unable to accept this totally unwarranted assumption of guilt. Strong representations have already been made by his Majesty’s Ambassador at Tokio to the Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs. I myself asked the Japanese Ambassador to call this morning, when I left his Excellency in no doubt, as to the serious view his Majesty’s Government took of these : arrests. I would prefer to say no more at the present stage.”—British Official Wireless.

THE JAPANESE ALLEGATIONS.

"FLOW OF PROPAGANDA." FROM THE BRITISH CABINET. (Received This Day, 12-45 pm.) LONDON, July 30. The Tokio correspondent of “Tire Times" says that amazement and consternation mildly describe the feelings of the British residents of Japan. The Japanese publish graphs showing how British propaganda flows from the British Cabinet to the Embassy, where it is passed on to war information committees, also the newlv-formed British library of information and culture. The committees, however, merely circulate war news, while the library is exclusively cultural like Japanese institutes in the British Empire and the United States. A statement ascribed to the Japanese War Office expatiates on “the ramifications of British propaganda and espionage" which it seems to consider most objectionable when functioning through legitimate channels.