EXTRADITION PROBLEM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21765, 3 April 1934, Page 9

EXTRADITION PROBLEM

SAMUEL INSULL'S CASE GREECE OPPOSING ARREST TURKEY DECIDES TO ACT A DELICATE SITUATION By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright CONSTANTINOPLE. April 1 Tlio Turkish Cabinet has decided to grant the? demand of the United States for the extradition of Samuel Insuil. An earlier report erroneously stated that an official tribunal in Constantinople had decided that Insuil was not an American citizen, and could go where he liked, but that this did not preclude the possibility of his arrest on another charge. Greece is reported to have instructed its legation at' Angora to ask what justification Turkey lias for holding the Maiotis, on which Insuil is a passenger. The Greek legation at Constantinople is seeking legal advico from its delegate on the International Straits Commission, which regulates the traffic in the Dardanelles, as to whether the detention of the' Maiotis, while en route to the Black Sea, violates the Straits Convention. Insuil is nervously pacing decks of the steamer, within sight of a Turkish police boat. He refuses to accede to the American request to appear before a Turkish Court. His lawyer, M. Pop, has protested to Kcmal Pasha, President of Turkey, against the proposal to arrest him'. The lawyer also has urged Greece to point out to Turkey that the airest would violate international law. M. Pop told the captain of the Maiotis to resist attempts to arrest Insuil, if necessary with arms. The captain declares that he is not going to surrender Insuil, who is protected by the Greek flag. At Angora charges were laid by the American Ambassador before the lurkisli Government in reference to Insuil. It is stated that no constraint can be exercised on the Maiotis without a decision of the Court and that the ship is freo to depart any moment.

After threatening to commit suicide, and leaving in his wake a welter of political complications, Samuel Insull, wanted in America on charges of alleged fraud, was bound for Abyssinia, via Djibouti, French Somaliland, on the Greek steamer Maiotis. The vessel at present is in harbour at Constantinople. She was chartered by Insull for £ISOO in London months ago. 'ihe steamer was recalled to .Piraeus by iad/0 when it was learned that the former American magnate was on board. When the captain of the Maiotis sent a radio message that Insull amis depressed and threatening to kill himselt the Greek Premier, M. Tsaldaris. replied: "Will hold you responsible. The captain replied that his passenger had been given an injection to quieten him. Alarmed by this news Mrs. Insull hurried to the Ministry of the Interior in Athens and begged the Minister, 31. Moudjorides, to send a message to her husband, saying that he would not be handed over to the American authorities, who have been trying for months to have him extradited. Jhe Minister agreed. Furthermore. he offered a police escort for Insull during his stay in port. This Ministerial gesture raised such a storm M. Moudjorides was forced to resign. The American Legatiou was informed that Insull was returning to Athens, hut took no action. Lawyers advised Mrs. Insull not to let her husband land. While the ship was complying with formalities before putting to sea again, Mrs. Insull took additional luggage out to the " man without a country." The ex-Premier, M. Venizelos, described the Government's treatment of the case as incomprehensible. The ordering of the Maiotis to return was lamentable. It proved the Government had promised a " concealed surrender of Insull. Otherwise the return was inexplicable. " Why all the fuss? ' replied Mrs. Insull. "My husband was ordered to leave Greece at midnight. He did. Why is the Government annoyed?" It seems that it will be Insull's turn to be annoyed at Djibouti, if he reaches there, as lie does not possess a Preneh visa on his passport, and the French already have refused him permission to land at Beirut.