WRITTEN PROTEST.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 228, 27 September 1938, Page 11

WRITTEN PROTEST.

JAPANESE CONSUL

ALLEGATIONS REPUDIATED.

'By Telejrraph.—Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, this da v

A report circulated in New Zealand newspapers asserting that two overseas visitors, Messrs. E. de Rothschild and N. Purcell-Fitzgerald, stated that they had seen Japanese in Auckland us:ng cameras with telescopic lenses, and apparently mapping out defences, having been repudiated by both men to the Consul General for Japan at Sydney, the Consnl-General for Japan at Wellington, Mr. K. Gunji. has forwarded a written protest to the Prime Minuter, the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, complaining against the untruth of the newspaper report.

Mr. Savage has given permission ,to Mr. Gunji to publish his reply, in the course of which Mr. Savage says: "I may state that my Government has no evidence as to the authority of the statement in question, and. in view of Mr. Purcell Fitzgerald's denial of responsibility, it would seem that some misunderstanding has arisen. The newspaper statement, in any event, does not appear to be founded on fact, and I feel sure your countrymen would not be parties to any such proceeding as that referred to."

The original report was contained in a Christchurch newspaper, and widely reprinted, and wm the subject of a question in the House of Representatives on June 30, when the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, was Mked whether his attention had been directed to the newspaper report.