Inquiry Before Decision On Eiler

Northern Advocate, 17 May 1949, Page 5

Inquiry Before Decision On Eiler

LONDON, Mon. (1 p.m.)—The Home Secretary (Mr C'huter Ede),. answering questions in the House of Commons about the action of British police in arresting Gerhard Eisier, leading United States Communist, aboard the Polish ship Batory, off Southampton, said the Government must await the receipt and investigation of the evidence before it could make a decision. Mr W. Galiacher (Communist) interjected: “Is there no limit to the depths of degradation to which this country can be drawn at America’s command?”

f . The Speaker commented that that was an improper insinuation.

Mr Galiacher retorted: “It. is not an insinuation. It is God’s truth.” Mr Chuter Ede said the United States Embassy officials applied to the Southampton magistrate for Eisler’s arrest on the ground that he had been convicted of an extraditable offence and broken bail. American Embassy officials went aboard the Batory, but he know of no intimidation of the captain. POLISH NOTE. The Polish Ambassador in London (M. Michalowski) this afternoon called on Mr Bevin and talked with him for half an hour on the detention of Eisier. 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 1 the Polish flag and the rights of Eisier who sought refuge aboard a Polish ship. ' The statement said the Polish Ambassador told Mr Bevin that international law was violated when the police, without asking permission from either the Polish consul or master of the Batory. boarded the ship and brought United States representatives with them. The statement concluded that Eisier 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, human rights and the principles of international morality had been violated. The Associated Press Warsaw correspondent says a Polish Government / Noe, 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 (M. Stefan Wierblowski). BEFORE COURT. A Southampton magistrate today ordered Eisier to be taken to London forthwith to face extradition proceedings. Eisier was described as a journalist. and was alleged to have been convicted of perjury in New York. ' Eisler’s counsel said Eisier was not America’s No. 1 Communist.' He was not even an American. “He is a German," counsel con: tinued. "He never wanted to go to the United States, but he was detained there on the way to Mexico during the war.” BAIL REFUSED As soon as the hearing was over' Eisier left for London by road, and later appeared in Bow Street Police Court, where he was remanded in custody until May 24. Bail was refused. A Foreign Office spokesman said today that Eisler’s arrest was permissible under international law. Twelve professors of Leipzig University, where Eisier was offered a chair some time ago, sent a telegram of protest against his arrest to the British Government. GERMAN PROTEST Reuters Berlin correspondent re-

ports that the Communist-sponsored * Free German Trade Union Movement today telegraphed the British Government protesting against the arj rest of Eisler. “In the name of our 5.000,000 members, we demand that Gerhard Eisler should be allowed to continue his journey to Germany, and must not be extradited to the United States. "Any anti-Fascist and Democrat must have the right to go to his country and help'with its democratic reconstruction,” the message said.