THE PANTER CASE

Hokitika Guardian, 30 October 1933, Page 5

THE PANTER CASE

TREASON CHARGE FOR REPORT ON NAZI AFFAIRS. (United Pres* Association—By Electric lelegrapU—Copyright;. ) ! ' I<ONDON', October 28", The British . Ctoifeul-General Munich, Mr St. 0. Gainer, who, since Tuesday,'had been denied' access to Panter, was to-uay permitted to visit nim at 1 ; the Munich police Headquarters, where he is -> under “protective custody.” .Panter is 'to be charged at Leipzig under 'Article 92 of the Penal Code with high treason and espionage. Article «92 of ' the code provides for punishment by penal servitude’.of not less than two years’ for anyone, who - deliberately “commmufiicates to another government or makes publicly kiiowii State secrets, or news of which he knows that to' keep them secret is necessary for the welfare of the 'German Empire, or the Federal State; I 'as against that, other Government.” i ; The Consul-General found" Panter fn good health, although pale ; from uis confinement. He had' been well treated and allowed to buy what he ! wanted. '• ' •’ It was stated that the charge is based on “an accumulation Of information concerning Storm Troops and Hitler Guards,; which was used so as io convey the impression that they were military formations, and that Germany was violating the Treaty of ’ Versailles.” ’ v. ■■ Panter declared that his message was sent in the course of carrying on only his ordinary occupation ' cof a journalist and 'of ■ sending 'Ordinary messages. 1 Gainer' asked the Bavarian Government .for permission for a legal adviser to see Panter. • • “U 1 • • The “News Chronicle’-’i'comments: VTf , there/is i one certain “Way of focusing the attention of the whole of Europe qk-: ; the military character- of ‘peaceful’ i demonstrations and' : of arousing widespread suspicion, it is by arresting a,' / reputable English'’ journaist, who dared to tell the' truth in a; leading English newspaper.”- ’ .The “Daily Telegraph’’■has ■ a leading ! article. protesting" against Noel Pauter’s arrest. It • expresses • that opinion that the Gernian'Government has . inconceivably: blundered, and is following it ; it? by an action raising the gravest international is- ■ sues. •• ’ " . PANTER’S REPORT REPUBLISHED THE, REASON ' FOR HIS ARREST. LONDON,. October.. 29. The “Daily Telegraph” jce-publish.es fully'Noel Pouter’s report of Chancellor Hitler’s reviews of' twenty thousand Storm Troops at Eelheim, which report immediately led to his arrest. I Panter opened by stating i ‘“A deeper | significance attaches to this military . display than either ;.the Chancellor or I the JNazi lieutenants desire the outer I world to know-”' . r •• . > j He mentioned that orders had been j issued to the press to avoid; everything .that might represent! the cele- I brations ;as being military in character, and in particular they were not; to mention, the firing of salutes, the inspection of the .ranks by the Chief of . Staff, and the participation of the Reicliswehr. He added that particular anxiety was felt lest the British and French press shou'-d become, “perturbed” by these events. Panter then ~ proceeded i to describe the inspection an,d a salute j of twenty-one guns that was fired i with cannon on Herr Hitler’s arrival, and again at the end of. Hitler’s soeech. He gave other' details showing the essentially- military character of the proceedings. The. “Daily Telegraph’s” Berlin correspondent says: Panter, refusing to make a statement,' except i n the presence of a witness, was told that he would not be .allowed facilities for consultation while he in this attitude. Consequently, he submitted on Thursday night to an 1 examination that was hold in the absence of witnesses, when he declared that he had only done hip duty as a journalist in faithfully reporting events that were of public interest. He strongly denied taking any action prejudicial to the interests of the German State.,' There is reason to believe that his statement might have turned matters in Panter’s favour but for a deposition made, also on Thursday night, in unknown circumstances by a German journalist who had been arrested simultaneously with Panter. The result is that the charge has now been officially brought... Attempts to, obtain legal assistance on ; . Panter’s belialf have so far been unsuccessful. OTHER JOURNALISTS ANXIOUS. f Received; this day at 10.15 a.m.) LONDON, October 29. The “Sunday Times” special reprei, sentative at Munich says that all "V foreign journalists are taking warn- • ing, and have arranged with their re- ' spective consuls to be informed if they will suffer a fate similar to Panter, as anyone might be, as the .section whereunder Panter will .probably be tried makes anyone liable to ten years’ penal for either sending to a foreign government or publicly.making known any information which is to the Reich's, advantage to bo kept secret.

TRIAL MAY NOT TAKE PLACE(Received this day a.; 9.50 a.m.) BERLIN, October 29. Diplomatic circles -are confident that Panter will not be tried, following a guarded -communique, which the Government for the first time has revealed since Ranter’s arrest, adding that he had been in touch -with -a German living at Munich, who was suspected of espionage, sending a-u'oeity stories abroad. It is anticipated therefrom tint the Government is blaming a German journalist more than Panter, who is expected to be expelled from Bavaria.