BRITONS HELD IN JAPAN

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23087, 1 August 1940, Page 7

BRITONS HELD IN JAPAN

Reported Demand For Release MORE ARRESTS MADE (EXITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT.) (Received August 1, 2 a.m.) TOKYO. July 31'. The diplomatic correspondent of the “Daily Mail” says that Britain has demanded the release of the Britons arrested in Japan. The correspondent adds that retaliation is likely if Japan does not comply. The British Embassy in Tokyo revealed that Mr R. T. Holder, president of the British Association in Kobe, had been released. Mr F, A. Jonas, a Kobe attorney, had been questioned, but not imprisoned. It added that the arrests in Korea were probably of isolated missionaries. The British Ambassador <Sir Robert Craigie) is at present without instructions. and is presumably awaiting a decision from London. The spokesman of the Japanese Foreign Office (Mr Y. Suma), referring to those arrested, said: “I do not know the exact number, but I have reason to believe that it is increasing.” He thought that they were all British. He explained that the Justice Ministry’s participation in Monday's announcement indicated that the Britons might be tried in civilian cohrts. Mr Suma said that the Japanese Government would refuse to consider ally British protest against the arrests. He also said it was a mistake to assume that the action was entirely anti-British, since any others engaging in espionage, regardless of nationality, would be relentlessly dealt with. Neutral diplomats are of the opinion that the Tokyo arrests foreshadow dramatic Japanese action, possibly joining the axis war against Britain, states a message from Shanghai. The neutral diplomats have not had specific information, but they said that high Japanese army officials privately slate that Japan might agree to territorial concessions to Russia guaranteeing the security of ‘Vladivostok in exchange for a free hand in southward expansion. Meanwhile the Japanese gendarmerie has arrested an undisclosed number of suspected spies at Kurume and Shimonoseki, The Kurume gendarmerie in a statement said: “With the rapid change in the international situation recently, foreign spies’ activities have reached such a stage that they can be no longer overlooked. In such circumstances it was decided to effect a wholesale raid on suspected persons on July 27, and put them under examination at Shimonoseki and Nagasaki.” Additional British subjects arrested yesterday were Mr E. G. Price, of Kobe, and Mr J. de Strafford, of Naggasaki. The Minister for War (LieutenantGeneral Tojo) told the Cabinet that the army would not hesitate to take drastic measures against Japanese assisting “foreign secret agents”; also those .who were pro-British. The Japanese Ministry of Education is reported to be planning to replace 500 alien instructors with Japanese, owing to “the discovery of the British espionage network,’’ and it will also exercise stricter supervision over missionaries. Lord Halifax’s Statement In a statement in' the House of Lords yesterday on the arrest of British subjects in Japan, the Foreign Secretary (Lord Halifax), who had in the morning received the Japanese Ambassador (Mr M. Shigemilsu), said it was hardly necessary to slate that there was no foundation whatsoever for the allegation by the Japanese Government connecting the urresls with “increasing activities of foreign organs of espionage and conspiracy” in Japan. Lord Halifax went on to refer to a further Japanese announcement on the circumstances of the death of Mr Cox. “The Japanese announcement slates that, In the light of the note addressed to his wife, which was discovered on his person, ‘it seems that with the progress of the investigation the 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 to Tokyo (Sir Robert Craigie) to the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr Matsuoka), and I myself asked the Japanese Ambassador to call this morning, when I left his Excellency in no doubt as to the serious view which His Majesty’s Government took of these arrests. I would prefer to say no more at the present stage.” “The Times” says, that during his interview with Mr Matsuoka. Sir Robert Craigie pointed out the strict way in which Gormans resident in Japan were organised. The local branch of the Nazi Parly had built up a kind of little Nuremberg, 1o which nil must belong, and where all were taught how to think and act by the party bosses and propaganda lectures. When Japan joined the Anti-Com-intern Pact, a member of the Gestapo was permitted to become a member of the Japanese Home Office. This local Himmler influence in the Japanese press persuades the authorities tq show German propaganda films._ The Germans lately have been sending a number of tourists and businessmen to Japan, who do little touring and less business. “Propaganda from Britain” 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 newlyformed British Library of Information and Culture, The committees, however, merely circulate war news while the library is exclusively cultural like the Japanese Institutes in the British Empire and United States. A statement ascribed to the Japanese War Office expatiates the “ramifications of British propaganda and espionage,” which it seems to consider most objectionable when functioning through legitimate channels. An authentic version of the arrest ol Mr Cox states that he was arrested at his beach cottage at Chigasaki, escorted to Tokyo, and imprisoned. The British Consul-General (Mr R. L. Cowley) made an effort to see Mr Cox, but was refused an interview. Mrs Cox delivered fond and clothing to her husband on Saturday and Sunday, but was not allowed an Interview. Mr Cowley, on Monday afternoon, arrived at the Japanese headquarters, to see Mrs Cox running from the building shouting. “Jimmy’s been hurt.” Mr Cowley entered under escort and found Mr Cox lying on a divan. A high-ranking officer said; "Come and I will show you what happened.” They went to the third floor, where the officer explained that he had been questioning Mr Cox. During an interval, he said, Mr Cox walked about the room and drank water. Suddenly he plunged through the window. “We treated Mr Cox very well, because he Was a foreigner, and we gave him the best attention, calling on three medical officers," said the officer. The fall broke both Mr Cox’s legs and arms and injured his head. Injections restored consciousness, but he died en route to hospital. The American Consulate in Shanghai at midnight warned six prominent American residents of Shanghai whose expulsion had been “ordered” yester-

clay fortnight by the Nanking Government to take precautions because the Japanese police might seek their arrest. An American radio commentator, Mr C. D. Alcott, has advised the United States Consul (General Richard) that a Russian-Japanese operative, Nathan Eabinoviteh, had telephoned demanding that Mr Alcott Cease his tri-weekly radio broadcasts. It is understood that the United Slates authorities are taking the threat seriously, since JVXi* Alcott is one o t the six prominent people the deportation of whom has been demanded by the Nanking Government. It is understood that American authorities are Seriously viewing the warning to Mr Alcott because the expiration of his term will coincide with Prince Konoye’s anticipated new policy.