SURPRISE MOVE

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21183, 5 August 1940, Page 9

SURPRISE MOVE

JAPANESE ARRESTED UNDER ALIENS LAW ACTION BY BRITAIN (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, August 4 Two Japanese business men have been arrested in London under the Defence Regulations. Their detention is not a reprisal for, but merely coincides with, the arrest of British subjects in Japan. The arrested men are Mr Satoru Makihara, head of the London branch of the Mitsubishi Shoji Kaisha, and Mr Shunsuke Tanabe, acting-chief of the London branch of the Mitsui Bussan Kaisha. The Mitsubishi and Mitsui concerns are two of the three largest in Japan, the former controlling 74 companies and the latter 112. Mitsubishi Shoji is a trading group of four companies, and Mitsui Bussan is an industrial group of 45 companies. The police are reported to have searched Mr Makihara’s house before his arrest, but no papers were taken. - The arrests are understood to have been made under the Aliens Order giving the Home Secretary power to deport or order the detention of aliens. It is learned that the Foreign Secretary, Viscount Halifax, had a 25-mia.jte interview with the Japanese Ambassador, Mr Mamoru Shigemitsu, and pointed out to him that the two Japanese business men were arrested under the Aliens Order in the interests of security. Lord Halifax emphasised that it was not in any way an act of reprisal. “We Are Flabbergasted” The spokesman at the Japanese Ambassador’s office said: “We are flabbergasted, as the men arrested are sympathetic to Britain and probably more British-minded than the average Briton. We hope everything can be settled satisfactorily. We cannot imagine anything on their part to invite suspicion.” Mr Tanabe was transferred to the London office of the Mitsui company two or three months ago. He has an English wife and one daughter. The Mitsubishi company has large and palatial offices in Plantation House, Fenchurch Street. The London staff did not know of the detentions until they read the evening papers. A member of the staff said Mr Makihara had been London manager for the company for nearly 10 years. The Tokio vernacular newspaper said today that the Navy and Army, upon receipt of details of the London arrests, would discuss them and decided upon a strong attitude toward Britain. Protest By Japan They added that the Foreign Minister, Mr Matsuoka, would protest to the British Ambassador in Tokio, Sir Robert Craigie, and Mr Shigemitsu would lodge a protest in London. The Yomiuri Shimbun said that, besides being “a disgraceful retaliatory scheme,” the London arrests were also an attempt to obstruct Japan’s European trade. Two more Brtfons have been arrested in Korea by the Japanese— Mr Sandford and the Rev. Mr Chadwell, of the Church of England Mission at Heijo. The British Ambassador is making representations. OUTRAGES IN CHINA MURDER AND KIDNAPPING (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) SHANGHAI, August 2 Unidentified Chinese gunmen assassinated Charles Metzler, leader of the White Russian Community Committee. Yen-Lan-Sheng, city editor of the American-registered Zin-Wan-Pao, who is on Nanking’s black list, has been kidnapped.