TWELVE BRITONS ARRESTED IN JAPAN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 179, 30 July 1940, Page 7

TWELVE BRITONS ARRESTED IN JAPAN.

JOURNALIST DEAD.

Police Allege Suicide By Jump From Window.

REUTERS MANAGER'S END

United Press Association.—Copyright

(Received 10 a.m.) LONDON , , July 29. Japanese police, acting simultaneously in several cities, have arrested 12 prominent British residents, mostly business men, since Saturday. They no reason for their action, but it is believed the arrests are in «onnection with military secrets. Those arrested include: In Tokyo, Captain C. H. James, R.X. (retired), chief representative of the Federation of British Industries; in Kobe, Mr. R. T. Holder, president of the local British Association, Mr. E. W. James, Mr. F. M. Jonae, Mr. L. T. Woolley, representative of the Asiatic Petroleum Company, and Mr. J. F. Drummond; in Osaka, Mr. H. C. MaeXaughton, who is honorary Consul for Greece, and Mr. J. F. James; two brothers Michael Ringer, from Shinionoseki and Vanya Ringer, Nagasaki, who is hon. Consul for Sweden, Norway and Portugal, and Reuters Tokyo correspondent, Mr. Melville Cox, who was to be charged under the military secrete regulations. The British Consul was not allowed to interview Mr. Cox. Mr. Cox, who was Far East manager for Reuters, was killed after a mysterious fall from the fourth floor of the Japanese police headquarters while being questioned. It is officially announced in Tokyo that Mr. Cox committed suicide, and a later message states that he jumped from the window while under examination and died. The Domei news agency earlier alleged that Mr. Cox jumped from the second floor of the headquarters of the Tokyo gendarmerie and died from his injuries an hour and three-quarters later. The Japanese police, the report etates, strenuously attempted to prevent Mr. Cox's act but failed. The agency alleges that Mr. Cox jumped from the loom to escape punishment. The Ministries of War and Justice announced that the Britishers were accused of spying against Japan. It was said that Mr. Cox committed suicide rather than face probable conviction. Sir Robert Craigie. British Ambassador, twice protested, once formally. He : personally protested to Mr. Yosuke I Mateuoka and requested information as to the reasons for the arrests. The result of the discussions has not yet been disclosed. Mr. Guy H. Locock, director of the Federation of British Industries, referring to the arrests, says that the charge of espionage against any representatives of the Federation of British Industries is fantastic. They are concerned solely with commercial matters, i The correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain says the Japanese Foreign Office disclosed that the Britishers were arrested by the military police under direction of the prosecutors as a fleet step against an alleged British espionage network throughout the country.