Seizure Of Nazi Sailors Routine Measure

Northern Advocate, 24 January 1940, Page 5

Seizure Of Nazi Sailors Routine Measure

(Received 2.30 p.m.) LONDON, January 24,

In London, it is pointed out that the removal of German passengers from the Japanese ship Asama Maru was a routine measure, normal in war and sanctioned by international law and practised between 1914-18. German passengers, it is recalled, have been removed from Italian vessels by units of the French Navy and from Portuguese by the British.

The action in each case, as on this occasion, has been taken by the Allies in such a manner as to cause the minimum inconvenience to the neutral vessels concerned. In this case, il is noted, the Japanese do not complain of the period of the detention of the vessel, which was, in fact, insignificant.

Germans Bo the Same

Within the very circumscribed area in which the Germans are able to exercise the rights of search, they have not failed to do so.

For example, 11 British fishermen picked up by the Swedish steamer Kron Princessan Margareta, after their own fishing smack, the British trawler Caldew, had been sunk by enemy action, were, on September 24. removed by a German destroyer, which, within seven miles of the Swedish coast, detained and searched the Swedish vessel. Other cases have occurred in the Baltic, where neutral vessels have been stopped by Germans with Poles aboard. The Asama Maru incident has aroused interest, chiefly because it occurred unexpectedly, only some 45 miles frojn Japan—well outside Japanese territorial waters. ,

Tokio Demand

The Foreign Minister (Mr Hacbiro Arita), with the support of the Cabinet, announced his intention to “insist that the German sailors taken from the Asama Maru by a British cruiser shall be returned to Japan.” The police blocked an attempt by 300 members of the Pro-Fascist Party to demonstrate at the British Embassy, demanding an apology for the alleged insult. A small delegation was permitted at the Embassy. to present a resolution to an attache This declared: “The incident pollutes the soul of the Japanese people.”

London Examines Note A summary of the terms of the Japanese Government’s Note protesting against the British action in retaining 21 Germans taken ’ from tiie Japanese liner Asama Maru has been received in London, and is under examination. A message from Kobe says the Seamen’s Association denounces as cowardly the master of the Asama Maru’s’ action in surrendering the Germans, which, it declares, has injured the prized . Japanese seamanship, and contributed to the loss of tile Empire’s pride. A. statement issued by the British Embassy at Tokio declares that the action of the British naval forces in removing the German merchant officers and seamen is fully in accordance With international law, adding that it is understood that not all the. Germans aboard, but only the technicians and skilled ratings, particularly iisefpl to the German war efforts were removed.