ARRESTED JOURNALIST

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22099, 1 November 1933, Page 7

ARRESTED JOURNALIST

MR RANTER GOING TO LEIPZIG PROSECUTION DOUBTFUL (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) BERLIN, October 30. It is authoritatively announced that Mr Ranter is going to Leipzig, where he will be examined by a magistrate on a charge of espionage. It is alleged that the arrested German journalist Achcrmann made a statement making the case against Mr Ranter of the blackest. If the magistrate decides on a prosecution Mr Ranter will be tried in' the Supreme Court. The British Consul and Vice-consul saw Mr Ranter. The police recorded the entire conversation. Mr Ranter said that a German prisoner had been placed m his cell, necessitating caution, as it was feared that he might be an agent-provo-cateur. . - ? ACTION BY AMBASSADOR. FULL PARTICULARS SOUGHT. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 30. The British Ambassador in Germany (Sir Eric Phipps) has received a further Note from the German Minister of Foreign Affairs, from which it appears that no decision; has yet been taken with regard to th 6 formation of a charge against Mr Ranter. The British Ambassador requested the Minister of Foreign Affairs to furnish him at the earliest possible moment with precise information regarding the charge. It is understood that the normal procedure ’in the ,case would be for the Bavarian Government to send the papers to the State prosecutor at Leipzig, with a recommendation as to the nature of the charge only. The State prosecutor, however, can decide whether the case should be proceeded with, and if so in virtue of which article in the criminal code a charge should be preferred.