FURTHER ARRESTS

Grey River Argus, 2 August 1940, Page 7

FURTHER ARRESTS

BRITONS IN JAPAN Anti-Espionage Drive [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.l LONDON, July 31. It is announced in London that Mr T. Ely, manager-director of the Petroleum Company at Yokohama, is the latest arrest. The Associated Press Shanghai correspondent reports that Russell Brines an Associated Press staff member, :s held in a Tokio hotel by the Japanese military police, apparently for questioning in connection with his despatches on Cox’s death and the arrests of Britons. The Japanese espionage round-up lias spread to Tientsin. Japanese gendarmes visited and questioned a woman officer in the British Concession, without the permission of the British police. Japanese also questioned Major G H. Walker, at Pe.taho. The Domei Agency stated that Helman Morin, the Associated Press Chief of the Bureau at Tokio was questioned regarding the despatches reporting Cox’s death. He was acof intimating it was not suicide. He was released after severa' hours.

Asked in the Commons about the rights granted to the Japanese, respecting traffic on the Burma Road, Mr Butler said that the recent agreement did not grant -the right of inspection to the Japanese authorities in Burma. There was no Japaiu.se diplomatic staff in Burma. The only Japanese Consulate was situated at Rangoon. At Tokio, Mr Suma, the Japanese spokesman, said: “The recent roundup of British espionage suspects was made for the explicit purpose of eliminating all persons and organisations engaged in the espionage of military secrets in the Japanese Empire. It is entirely unreasonable that Britain should make any sort of protest against this country in connection with these arrests. Opinion to the effect that the recent round-up was insufficiently supported by evidence is entirely incorrect, for sufficient evidence is in the possession of the competent authorities; but, as the matter is still under investigation, I am not in a position to disclose it. The roundup was entirely justified, for it was a step taken toward those who spied on military secrets, which vitally concern the existence of the Japanese Empire ” SIX MEN RELEASED. (Received Aug. 2, 1.42 a.m ' LONDON, August 1. It is authoritatively stated Japan has now released six of the arrested Britons. Seven are still under arrest. Those released are T. Ely, F. M. Jonas, H. C. McNaughten, J. F. Drummond, E. G. Price and R. T. Holder. BRITISH STEAMER. DETAINED BY JAPANESE (Received Aug. 2, 1.40 a.m.) HONG KONG, August 1. 11. is authoritatively stated that the Butterfield Swire Company steamer has been detained at Canton in Japan as the result of a deadlock betv'een Britain and Japan. The Japanese are demanding the right to station inspectors along the Hong Kong border. across which they claim, supplies are still passing to China.