REPORTED DEATH

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 July 1940, Page 5

REPORTED DEATH

OF BRITON ARRESTED IN JAPAN ALLEGED SUICIDE FALL FROM POLICE OFFICE WINDOW. TALK OF ESPIONAGE NETWORK. The British Ambassador at Tokio has made representations to the Japanese Government in regard to the arrest of British subjects in Japan, Daventry reports. It is stated by the Japanese that the arrests are the first steps towards clearing up what is described as a British espionage network covering the whole of Japan. The Japanese also claim that Mr J. Cox, Reuter’s correspondent in Japan, committed suicide, because he realised that he could not escape detection on a charge of espionage. AMBASSADOR ACTING PECULIAR CIRCUMSTANCES. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, July 29. The Dome! (Japanese) news agency reports the death of Mr Cox in peculiar circumstances, stating that he fell out of a window of a gendarmerie office. London authorities are unable to confirm or deny the report. It is now understood that 11 Britons are under examination. The British Ambassador, Sir Robert Craigie, called on the Japanese Foreign Minister in Tokio this morning to discuss the arrests. The purport of the discussion has not yet been revealed. An earlier message stated that the British Consul was not allowed to interview Mr Cox. POLICE SECRECY NEWS OF ARRESTS WITHHELD. LONDON, July 28. Those arrested are Captain C. H. James. Tokio, retired naval officer and chief representatives of the Federation of British Industries, four Kobe residents, Messrs Bolden, who is president of the local British Association, E. W. James, F. M. Jonas, and J. F. Drummond, two Osaka business men, Messrs H. M. MacNaughton, who is honorary Consul for Greece, and J. F. James, two brothers named Ringer from Shimonoseki and Nagasaki, and Reuter’s Tokio correspondent, Mr J. Cox, who is being charged under the military secrets regulations (whose death is reported above). The news of the arrests was withheld from the public, and its transmission from Japan forbidden. It became known through information received in Shanghai. “MYSTERIOUS FALL” MORE ABOUT MR COX’S DEATH. THE OFFICIAL ALLEGATION. (Received This Day, 9 a.m.) TOKIO, July 29. Mr Melville Cox, the Far East Manager of Reuters, was killed in a mysterious fall from the fourth floor of the Japanese police headquarters while being questioned. According to a later message it is officially announced that Mr Cox committed suicide. A total of twelve Britons has been arrested, since Saturday, it is believed in connection with military secrets. The British Ambassador, Sir Robert Craigie twice protested, once formally. He also personally protested to the Foreign Minister, Mr Yosuke Matsuoka, and requested information concerning the arrests. A later message says Mr Cox jumped from a window while under examination and died. ESPIONAGE CHARGES MADE BY FOREIGN OFFICE. (Received This Day. 9a.m.) LONDON July 29. The Associated Press of Great Britain’s correspondent at Tokio says the Foreign Office disclosed that the Britons were arrested by military police, under the direction of prosecutors, as the first step against, an alleged country-wide British espionage network. ALLEGATIONS FANTASTIC MR GUY LOCOCK’S COMMENT. (Received This Day, 9 a.m.) LONDON. July 29. Mr Guy Locock, a director of the Federation of British Industries, referring to the Shanghai arrests says a charge of espionage against any representatives of the Federation of British Industries is fantastic as they are concerned solely with commercial matters. TOKIO ANNOUNCEMENT (Received This Day, 9.45 a.m.) TOKIO, July 29. The Ministries of War and Justice announced that the rounded-up Britishers are accused of anti-Japanese espionage and said Mr Cox (the Reuter representative) had committed suicide rather than face probable conviction.