FOUR ARRESTED IN PARIS

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25740, 28 February 1949, Page 7

FOUR ARRESTED IN PARIS

Charge of Disclosing Military Secrets

POLICE WATCHING 11 OTHERS (N.Z. Press Association —Copyright) (Rec. 10 p.m.) PARIS, February 27. Four alleged French Communist sympathisers have been arrested by the police and charged with disclosing military secrets. The accused have been handed over-to the military authorities. Eleven other men arrested on similar charges were released, but will be kept under police surveillance.

The four men arrested are Robert Friedland, a reporter on the Leftist weekly newspaper “Regards,” Pierre Juin, editor-in-chief of “Regards,” Robert Penniaut, general manager of the paper “France d’Abord,” and Bertrand Jouenne, a designer in the drafting office of the nationalised French aircraft construction works. The men must be tried by a military triounal and the charges must be heard in public. A communique issued by the Ministry of the Interior says that for some time the Ministry has been investigating certain persons interested in French national defence. Friedland. who was arrested as he was leaving the Communist Party’s headquarters, carried documents “relating to national defence.” The Communist newspaper “Ce Soir” says that Friedland was preparing an article “against war” when he was apprehended by the police. Political observers believe that this article may be connected with the statement by the Secretary-General of the Communist Party (Mr Maurice Thorez) that French workers would do everything to make war with the Soviet Union not just difficult but impossible. The men were arrested after the police had raided the buildings of three French Communist publications and the homes of Communist trade unionists. “Le Monde” says that the raids began on Thursday night. The main operation was against “Regards." “Le Monde” said: “Many documents were seized at the newspaper’s office, and also at the homes of some of the staff, together with the layout and copy of articles for the next number.” The Communist Trades Union Federation has protested against the raids and has threatened “mass action” if the Government “lays hands” on Communist leaders.