HELD IN GAOL

Southland Times, Issue 22159, 30 October 1933, Page 7

HELD IN GAOL

BRITISH JOURNALIST ARRESTED BY BAVARIAN POLICE CHARGE OF TREASON (British Official Wireless.) Rugby. October 27. Very strong criticism is made in the English Press of the action of the German authorities in reference to the arrest by the Bavarian political police on Tuesday of Mr Noel Panter, the Munich correspondent of the Daily Telegraph. , The News-Chronicle comments: . It there is one certain way of focusing the attention of the whole of Europe on the military character of the “peaceful demonstration,” and of arousing widespread suspicion, it is by arresting a reputable English journalist who dared to tell the truth in a leading English newspaper. The British Consul-General in Munich (Mr D. St. C. Gainer), who since Tuesday had been denied access to Mr Panter, was to-day permitted to visit him at the Munich police headquarters,, where he is under "protective custody. Mr Panter is to be charged at Leipzig, under article 92 of the penal code, with high treason and espionage. Article 92 of the criminal code provides for the punishment by penal servitude for not less than two years of anyone who deliberately “communicates to another Government or makes publicly known State secrets or news which he knows should be kept secret for the welfare of the German Empire or the Federal State as against that other Government.” The Consul-General found Mr Panter in good health, although he .was pale from his confinement. He said he had been well treated, and allowed to buy what he wanted. It is stated that the charge is based on an “accumulation cf information concerning Storm Troops and Hitler guards which was used, so as to convey the impression that they were military formations and that Germany was violating the Treaty of Versailles.”

Mr Panter declared that his message was sent in the course of carrying on only his ordinary occupation as a journalist and sending ordinary messages. Mr Gainer has asked the Bavarian Government for permission for a legal adviser to see Mr Panter. The Daily Telegraph republishes fully Panter’s report of Hitler’s review of 20,000 storm troopers at Kelheim which immediately led to his arrest. Panter opened by stating “Deeper significance attaches to this military display than either the Chancellor or Nazi lieutenants desire the outer world to know.” He mentioned that orders had been issued to the Press to avoid everything that might represent the celebrations as of a military character. In particular they were not to mention the firing of salutes and the inspection of the ranks by the chief of staff nor the participation of tne Reichswehr. He added that particular anxiety was felt lest the British and French Press would become “perturbed” by events. Panter proceeded to describe the inspection and salute of 21 guns fired from cannons on Hitler’s arrival and again at the end of Hitler’s speech. He gave other details showing the essentially military character of the proceedings. The Daily Telegraph’s Berlin correspondent says that Panter on refusing to make a statement except in the presence of a witness was told he would not be allowed facilities for consultation while he persisted in this attitude. Consequently, he submitted on Thursday night to an examination held in the absence of witnesses when he declared he had only done his duty as a journalist in faithfully reporting events of public interest. He strongly denied any action prejudicial to the interests of the German State. There is reason to believe the statement might have turned matters in Pantier’s favour but for the deposition, also on Thursday night, in unknown circumstances of a German journalist who was arrested simultaneously. The result is the charge now officially brought. Attempts to obtain legal assistance on his behalf have so far been unsuccessful.

Tire Sunday Times’ special representative at Munich says that all foreign journalists are taking warning and have arranged with their respective Consuls to be informed if they suffer a fate similar to Panter, as anyone might be, as the section under which Panter will probably be tried, makes anyone liable to ten years penal servitude for either sending to a foreign Government or publicly making known any information which it is to the Reich’s advantage to keep secret. The Telegraph in a leader protesting against Panter’s arrest expresses the opinion that the German Government inconceivably blundered, following it up by their action in raising the gravest international issues.