RELEASE REFUSED

Grey River Argus, 1 August 1940, Page 7

RELEASE REFUSED

Official Statement

(Received Aug. 1, 12.40 a.m.) TOKIO, July 31

The spokesman, M. Suma, said the Government will refuse to consi .er any -British protest against the arrests. He also said that it would be a mistake to assume that the action taken was entirely anti-British, since any others engaging in espionage, regardless of their nationality, would be relentlessly dealt with. LONDON DECISION AWAITED. (Received July 31, 11-5 TOKIO, July 3xSir R. Craigie (British Ambassador) is at present without instructions. He is presumably awaiting a London decision. Lord Halifax’s Statement denial of espionage SERIOUS BRITISH VIEW OF arrests RUGBY, July 30. In a statement in the Lords on the arrest of British subjects in Japan, Lord Halifax, who had this morning received the Japanese Ambassador m London, said it was hardly necessary to state there was no foundation whatsoever for the allegation by the Japanese Government, implicit in the joint announcement of the Ministers of War and Justice, connecting the arrests with “increasing activities of foreign organs of espionage and conspiracy” in Japan. Lord Halifax went on to refer to the further Japanese announcement on the circumstances of the death of ( Mr Cox. “The announcement states 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, 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 at Tokio to the Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs. I myself asked the Japanese Ambassador to call this morning, when I left his Excellency in no doubt as to the serious view His Majesty’s Government took of these arrests. I would prefer to say no more at the present stage.” No report has yet been received by official quarters in London; regarding the treatment under detention and examination of Mr Cox. In the House of Commons, an opportunity to discuss the foreign pok icy was arranged mainly as a resuiof the desire of many members to go further into questions of policy in toe Far East, raised by the Government o announcement of the decision temporarily to restrict traffic t<s China oy the Burma route. It was therefore expected that the Far Eastern situation would occupy most of the debating time, and the recent arrests ot British subjects in Japan, on the pretext that they are suspected of espionage, makes it certain that the House will want to examine very closely the implications of recent developments in the Far East. Members of Parliament take a very serious view of the action of the Japanese mJ thary police, and are awaiting anxiously the statement on the subject. Both in the Parliamentary lobbies and in the Press, there has been a growing movemen of opinion opposed to secret sessions, the usefulness of which is felt to be limited, and which might easily become a “bad habit,” unless checked. However, when it came to a free vote, Mr Churchill’s motion, ffeit the House consider the British foreign policy in a secret session, after half an hour’s debate, the House decided on a secret session, by 200 votes to 109. Japan Discriminates IN GERMANS’ FAVOUR. BRITISH AMBASSADOR’S REPRESENTATIONS. 1 (Received July 31, 8.50 p.m.) LONDON. July 31. “The Times” says that during a:: interview with the Japanese Foreign Minister, Mr. Matsuoka, Sir Craigie (British Ambassador) pom-,.-ed out that German s resident in Japan were organised in a strict wa<. He said the local branch of the Nazi Party had built up a kind of “Little Nuremburg,” to which all most belong, and wher e all were taught how

to think and act by party bosses, ana propaganda lectures. When japan had joined the Anti-Comintern Pact, a member of the Gestapo had been permitted to become a member 01 the Japanese Home Office. This local Himmler had influenced the Japanese Press and persuaded the authorities to show German propaganda films. Germans had lately been sending a number of tpurists and business men to Japan, who did little touring and less business. PROPAGANDA ALLEGATIONS. AGAINST THE BRITISH. ( [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] I LONDON, July 30. “The Times’s” Tokio correspondent says: Amazement and conste l ' iat.on mildly describes the feelings of British residents in Japan. The Japanese published graphs, showing how British propaganda flows from the British Cabinet to the Embassy, where is is passed on to the war information committees, also the new-ly-formed 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 the Uni:rd States. A statement, ascribed to the Japanese War Office, expatiates on the “ramifications of British propaganda and espionage,” which it seems to consider most objectionable when functioning through legitimate channels.

Syring Impossible

A VISITOR’S VIEW

CHRISTCHURCH, July 30

A visitor to Christchurch from Japan Mr R. W. Basler, knows personally some of the British subjects who were reported to have been, arrested in Japan. Mr J. Cox, the Reuter’s correspondent, went for his honeymoon to a hotel of which Mr Basler was manager, and according to Mr Basler he was very popular with the Japanese. Mr Basler had also known Captain C. H. James and Mr J. F. James when they stayed at his hotel.

“Spying is right out of the question for foreigners,” said Mr Basler, “because if you are not a Japanese you are noticeable, and you cannot observe if yoy are noticeable. I speak Japanese very fluently, but I am still, treated as a foreigner. I think it must be something else that caused] their arrests.” It was possible, Mr] Basler said, that reports had been sent overseas which did not please the J'apanese. He recalled the arrest and imprisonment of Mr James Young, Japanese manager for the Hearst newspapers, for spreadingharmful rumours, and said that for a while the position was very serious and President, Roosevelt even had intervened.

“Japan is very favourably inclined towards New Zealand and Australia, though less so to Australia because of tariffs, and I do not think she has any aspirations at present,” said Mr Basler. Newspapers contained reports only, and no political comment in connection with these countries, he said. “I think that in Manchukub, China, and what might come Japan has too much to handle already, and you need not worry. Yet a million and a half is very few people for a country like this.”

Mr Basler is an officer in the Swiss Army, and he got as far as New York on his way to join up, but the day he was leaving New York, Italy declared war, and he was prevented from going. “In the last war Switzerland lost her trade connections because all the Swiss came home,” he said.

WILL SOVIET BACK JAPAN ? SHANGHAI, July 30. Neutral diplomats are of the opinimon that the Tokio arrests foreshadow dramatic Japanese action, j ossibly along with the Axis in the war against Britain. The neutrals have not had specihc information, but they said that high Japanese Army officials privately state Japan might agree to territorial ccncessions to Russia, guaranteeing the security of Vladivostock, in exchange for a free hand regarding southward expansion. An American radio commentator here, Mr C. D. Alcott, has ad/ised the United States Consul-General here, Mr Richard, that a RussianJapanese operative named Nathan Rabinovitch. had telephoned demanding that Mr Alcott should cease his tri-weekly radio broadcasts. It ‘is understood that the United States authorities are taking this threat seriously.

Southward Policy ’ TO BE PUSHED AHEAD. (Received Aug. 1, 12.5 a.m.) TOKIO, July 31. The former Overseas Minister, Mr Koiso, advocates a strong southward expansion 'policy. Upon the arrival of General Aomori, en route to inspect Sakhalien, Mr Koiso, said that Prince Konoye’s Cabinet will undoubtedly push the southward policy. He added: “Before leaving Tokyo, Prince Konoye told me that he agreed with my views.” Shanghai Mayor REQUEST FOR POLICE AID. FOREIGNERS’ REFUSAL EXPECTED. (Received August 1, 12.2 a.m.). SHANGHAI, J'uly 31.

Mayor Fusiaoen has sent a letter to the Municipal Council at the Shanghai . International Settlement, requesting police for the arrest of 86 Chinese who are mentioned in the Nanking Government’s black-list. The Council is meeting on Thursday. It is expected to reject the request. Soochow Mayor ASSASSINATION BY GUNMEN. (Received July 31, 11.30 p.m.) SHANGHAI, July 31. Mainichi reports that three gunmen shot and killed Mayor Kohbhenkee, of Soochow. Th e Japanese have closed the city, and are seeking for the assassins.