JAPANESE ARRESTED IN LONDON

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23090, 5 August 1940, Page 7

JAPANESE ARRESTED IN LONDON

“Interests of Security” As Reason PROTEST EXPECTED IN TOKYO fCTBITSD PSSS3 XSSOCM.TIO* —ooptbight.) (Received August 4, 9,30 p.m.) LONDON, August 3. Two Japanese, representatives of famous Japanese industrial and commercial houses, have been arrested in London under the defence regulations. They are Mr Batoru Makihara, head of the London branch of the Mitsubishi Bhoji ‘ Kaisha, and Mr Shunsuke Tanabe, acting chief of the London branch of the Mitsui Bussan Kaisha. The police are reported to have searched Mr Makihara’s house before his arrest, but no papers were taken. The arrests, it is understood, were made under the Aliens Order, giving the Home Secretary power to deport or order the detention of aliens. The detention of the two Japanese is not a reprisal, but merely coincides with the arrests of British subjects in Japan. 1 Earlier Tokyo reports had stated that a number pf Japanese had been arrested iq London aqd elsewhere in the Empire, It is learned that the Foreign Secretary (Lord Hafi? fa*) had an interview lasting 25 minutes with the Japanese Ambassador (Mr Shigemitsp), and pointed out that the Japanese businessmen had been arrested under the Aliens Order in the interests of security- He emphasised that it was not in any way an act of re? prisal. A spokesman at the Japanese Ambassador’s office said: “We are flabbergasted, as the arrested men were sympathetic to Britain, and probably more Britishminded than the average Britisher. We hope everything may be settled satisfactorily? We cannot imagine anything on their part to invite suspicion.” Mr Tanahe was transferred to the London office two or three months ago. He has an English wife and one daughter.

SUQqRSTED

The Mitsubishi Cqmpany has large apd palatial qt Plantation Bouse, Fenehurcn street, in the Cjty of Tondon- The staff aid not know of the detentions until they read the evening papers. A member of the Staff said that Mr MaHihara had been London manager of the company for pearly 10 years.

A message from Tokyo says, that the general opinion is that the London arrests arp a retaliation fqr the Tokyo round-up of British subjects. Foreign Office and Navy spokesmen declined to comment. They said they were awaiting further details. Mitsubishi officialß said they had been informed only by the Bomei News Agency. Bqwpvpr, they indicated that they were planning an appeal-

Semi-official sources in Tqkyo have been asserting that such action by Britain wpuJd he merely retaliation and would be strongly resented- The Foreign Office the onreceiptofdeS wffi discuss and decide on adopting a strppg attitude to .Recording, to Tokyo sources the Foreign Minister (MrMatsuoka) would protest to the British (Slr Bollt!rt Crsi «'« w« W r Stteroi sS

~ The TfiHyQ WWSBBPer, said that besides being a disgraceful retqllqjqry scheme” theLfin- » ***** ft* Mi