BICKERTON CASE

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 76, 31 March 1934, Page 11

BICKERTON CASE

OFFICIAL'ATTITUDE

JAPAN AND COMMUNISM

TOKIO,,March 29. The Foreign Office is reticent regarding Mr. W. >W. Bickerton, a New Zealander who was aiTested on suspicion of Communist activity, and whose examination is likely to continue for some time, but it is understood that he possessed a Communist paper, and possibly gave money to some needy Communist, which, in Japan, is sufficient to cause much trouble.'

The English community'is astonished, as it esteems Mr. Bickerton" as a respcctablo and scholarly authority on Japanese literature most unlikely to engage in subversive activities.

Later, a Foreign Office spokesman said that the charges against Mr. Bickerton arc rather serious, if true. Ho. has been arrested since March ' 13. Police confiscated the things in his house and have evidence, some of which he denied. The examination may take months, but will- bo expedited, as much as possible.. The spokesman s%id that Mr. Bickerton seems to bo a British subject, but ■New Zealand not having, an applicable treaty with Japan ho must be treated according to the principles of international law.. ' . ..■-.'' ...