ARRESTED RED HELD IN CUSTODY FOR EXTRADITION PROCEEDINGS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22948, 17 May 1949, Page 5

ARRESTED RED HELD IN CUSTODY FOR EXTRADITION PROCEEDINGS

(N.Z.F.A.—Reuter—Copyright.)

(10 a.m.) LONDON, May 16. Gerhart Eisler, the German-born American Communist who was arrested by the British police on the Polish liner Bator,y at Southampton on Saturday night, appeared before a Southampton magistrate today.

He ordered Eisler to be taken to London forthwith to face extradition proceedings.

“Brutal Violation” The Polish Government today denounced the seizure of Eisler as a “brutal violation of the Polish flag." It added that Eisler’s arrest constituted abduction and that the incident had caused deep indignation and understandable amazement. The police boarded the Batory earlier on Saturday and held a three-hour conference with Eisler and representatives of the Polish Embassy in London, who protested against any arrest from a Polish ship. Following a night conference, four British police officers carried Eisler down a three-stair flight to a police tender and took him to the cells in Southampton, Eisler is reported to have boarded the Batory in New York as a stowaway and then paid a first-class fare to Gydnia. Captain Jan Cwiklinski, master of i the liner Batory earlier had said he would take Eisler to Gydnia rather than put him ashore in England for return to the United States. Captain Cwiklinski added that Eisler’s return to America was a matter for United States and Polish officials. The Polish Ambassador in London. Mr. Michalowski, this afternoon called on the Foreign Secretary, Mr. Ernest Bevin, and talked with him for half an hour on the detention of Eisler. Strong Protest to Mr. Bevan The Polish Embassy, in a statement, said the Polish Ambassador delivered a strong oral protest to Mr. Bevin against the violation of the rights of the Polish flag and the rights of Eisler who sought refuge aboard a Polish ship. The statement said that the Polish Ambassador told Mr. Bevin that international law was violated when the police, without asking permission from either the Polish Consul or the master of the Batory, boarded the ship and brought Unitd States representatives with them.

Eisler was described as a journalist and was alleged to have been convicted of perjury in New York. Eisler’s counsel said that Eisler was not America's No. 1 Communist and he was not even an American. “He is German,” he said. “He never wanted to go to the United States. He was detained there on his way to Mexico during the war.” Bail Refused As soon as the hearing was . over Eisler left for London by road and later appeared in the Bow Street Police Court where he was remanded in custody until May 24. Bail was refused. The Foreign Office spokesman said today that Eisler’s arrest was permissable under international law. The Home Secretary, Mr. Chuter Ede, answering questions about Eisler in the House of Commons, said the Government must await the receipt and investigation of the evidence before it could make a decision. Mr. J. Gallacher, Comunist: “Is there no limit to the depths of degradation to which this country can be drawn at America’s command?” The Speaker commented that that was an improper insinuation. Mr. Gallacher retorted: “It is not an insinuation. It’s God’s truth.” Mr. Chuter Ede said the United States Embassy officials had applied to the Southampton magistrate for Eisler’s arrest on the ground that he had been convicted of an extraditable offence and had broken bail. American Embassy officials went aboard the Batory, but he knew of no intimidation of the captain. : Twelve professors of the Leipzig University where Eisler wat offered a cm.ir some time ago sent a telegram of protest against his arrest to the British Government.

The statement concluded that Eislor was a political refugee who had committed no crime against Britain and who was persecuted by the Nazi regime and that, by carrying him away by force, the human rights and the principles of international morality had been violated. The Associated Press correspondent in Warsaw says that a Polish Government Note, believed to be on the lines of the protest by the Polish Ambassador in London was handed to the British Minister in Warsaw. Sir Donald Sinclair, by the acting Polish Foreign Minister, Mr. Stefan Wierblowski.