1940-05-25 — Page 11

THE CHINA MAIL, MAY 25, 1940.

SECRET NAZI RADIO NI CAIRO

Cairo, To-day. The Calro police have located a aborot radio transmitter · which was putting out German propa- ganda. Several foreigners have been arrested and Investigations are proceeding.-Router.

THE CALL COMES

LONDON, TO-DAY.

IN A PERSONAL MESSAGE TO MEN REGISTERING FOR SERVICE TO-DAY, MR. ERNEST BEVIN, MINISTER OF LABOUR, SAYS:--

JAPANESE EXPANSION TO SOUTH

(SPECIAL TO “CHINA MAIL")

Tokyo, To-day. Formosa has become, the principal base for Japanese expansion southward since the outbreak of the China war, declared Admiral Seizo Kobayashi, Governor-Gener- al of Formosa, to the press on his return here yesterday.

He added that Formosa must be developed for Japan's future advance- ment in South China and the South Seas.

If the pressure from the continent advance- which prevented Japan's ment is alleviated, Japan must concen- trate on her southward expansion po- licy.

"I hope to advise the Government visit," in this respect during my Admira! Kobayashi sald. "The development of electric pow- er resources is the most important do- mestic issue in Formosa. Because of lack of materials such as iron and cement the project cannot be pushed

"In this grave hour, when our very existence, the future of our nation, your homes and loved ones, are at stake, the call comès to you to take your stand side by side with your gal- lant comrades and with them to play a decisive part in the greatest strug- gle in the history of our people.

"There is but one goal before us-satisfactorily. victory.

"To this mighty 'task, in fortune or adversity, we will dedicate ourselves unceasingly, and we at home will spare no effort to supply and back you in every possible way.” Reuter.

WHY WAS SIR ROGER CASEMENT HANGED

FOR TREASON? ·

(Continued from Page 10)

When it became apparent to the German military that this strange Irishman was a military asset of very dublous value, they treated him with scant courtesy.

✡

*

*

At this point in our story, there is a blank page. Nothing is known to this day of the movements of Casement after the fallure of the Irish Brigade, for he vanished be- tween February, 1915, and April, 1916. Then, with dramatic suddenness, he reappear- ed.

On the night before Good Friday, 1916, folks at Tralee saw a queer light at sea. Later that night word was passed around that a small boat had come ashore contain- ing three men. The local police soon heard of these mysterious visitors given up by the sea and went in search of them..

So on Good Friday,, Casement and a man named Bailey, a member of the ill-starred Irish Brigade (who had achieved his object Papers in getting home) were arrested. were found containing code data regarding war materials. Casement was taken under escort to England to stand his trial,

To stand his trial, most certainly, but up- on what charge? That was the puzzle which confronted, the Law Officers of the Crown some days later,

The facts were damning enough. For It became clear that Casement had made the voyage from Germany to Tralee in a Ger man U-boat. And, with the scuttling on that same day of the Norwegian ship Aud (who unmasked herself as German on challenge by H.M.S. Bluebell), the final piece was fitted into the pattern.

For the Aud, examined by divers, was found to be loaded with rifles, ammunition and other war material, clearly designed for the Irish rebels.

Two days later, the Easter Rising broke out in Dublin. But Casement, locked in his cell. knew nothing of the course of events,

*

*

*

The Attorney-General of that day was Sir F. E. Smith, K.C.-läter to become the first Lord Birkenhead. Ag'senior' Law Officer, it was his task to frame the appropriate in- dictment, and in this work he had the assis- tance of the Solicitor-General, Sir George Cave, K.C., later, also, a peer and Lord Chancellor.

From the legal point of view, the case bristled with difficulties, because the point was raised as to whether any offence at all ́had been committed by Casement,

Mr. Berjeant Sullivan (still in practice) defended Cagement at the historic trial, which was at Bar, before, Lord Reading, Lord Chief Justico, and Avory and Horridge, JJ. With Serjeant Sullivan appeared Mr. Artemus Jones and Professor J. H. Morgan, an authority on the Law of the Constitution. Now Mr. Sorjeant Sullivan, at the trial, elaimed, that since the acts alloged were done outside the realm, the Crown case fell to the ground. But Sir F. E. Smith had gone over all that ground. Indeed, the Law Officers had found it necessary to go right back to the Statute of Treason, 1851, to "find "a statutory enactment to cover the offence. The Statute was so old that it was written In Norman-French and was put on the Statute: Book at a time when the King of England Wah' alao King of France, but was

"The Government of Formosa would also like to establish a steamship com- pany exclusively for Formosa; taking over ships from the N.Y.K., O.S.K, and other lines now running to Formosan waters."-Havas.

not King of Ireland!

"All these points were raised in the defence, which was dramatic by reason of the fame of the prisoner, his haughty and noble bear- ing, and the collapse which overwhelmed Serjeant Sullivan and resulted in his with-i drawal.

That Casement received a fair trial no- body at this time of day would dispute. But where there may be dissent is upon the point of the sentence, which was ignominious death at the hands of the hangman.

*

One explanation of why the Prime Minis- ter. hardened his heart against Casement may be put forward.. When the case had gone to the Appeal Court, all London, in- cluding Clubland and the House of Com- mons, was flooded with photographic coples of a diary, in what appeared to be Case- ment's own handwriting.

The diary was a record of perversion over many years. When Redmond was shown it, he withdrew his efforts for a reprieve. That was not logical, of course, for Casement was not convicted and punished for moral offences.

Moreover he was never given a chance to explain the diary. That he might have been able to do. For, when he sent from; the Putomayo a full report of the atrocities there, he sent a copy of-adiary of an agent against whom he alleged such offences. It may well have been that manuscript which was put into circulation to prejudice the sentence.

More humane were those famous, doctors and writers and clergy, including the Arch- bishop of Canterbury, who strove to the end

to get a reprieve.

Should Casement have had clemency? Nothing would have been lost had he been confined to prison.

But war wears away sentiment, stiffes charity, putting in their place a harshness that verges at times on relentless vengeful- ness. It was an England in the psychologi- cal state that sent the saviour of the Congo negro and the Indian of the Putomayo to an ignominious death at the hands of the public exccutioner.

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