Peiping, Aug. 18, It Is now twelve weeks since Col. Spear was first arrested by the Japanese military authorities and sent Yo Kalgan In detention. Neither the British government nor public appear to evince any very great concern about the fate of this British officer. in these three months H.M. govern ment has not only been unable to obtain his release, but has even falled to obtain. his early "trial," and scarcely even a betterment in the conditions of his imprisonment.
The Japanese military authorities at Kalgan are always excusing the delay in staging the "trial" on the grounds that the case is still under investigation. One would have thought that even the most pains~ taking prosecutor must have com pleted his preliminary investigation by this time. Had conditions been reversed and had It. Col Spear been Japanese subject arrested in Eng-and for a real legal offence, he would have been brought up for'trial long ago, Moreover, he would have beet allowed legal assistance and the help fof his. fellow-nationals, The Japanese military authorities have repeatedly declared that the Kalgan military area comes under the control of General Sugiyama, Commander-in-Chief of the Japanese forees in North China, whose headquarters are at Peiping. Why, then, has H. M. government been unable to obtain Colonel Spear's transfer to that elly, where he could have been given very much better treatment in the way of food and quarters, than he is getting in Kalgan 7 emeer's Visit All that H. M, government has beer: able to attain in this long period is the permission for a junior British officer to proceed to Kalgan to see Colonel Spear. On August 12 Captain P.G, Parker, Royal Artillery, British Janguage-officer in Japan, or-rived in Peiping by plane from Tokyo fand on' Monday, August 14 flew on Kalgan. He was accompanied by Major Hennessy R.A.M.C., whom the Peiping Headquarters had allowed 10 go slong. To most people it would have appeared more fitting, if a more senior oflcer had been sent, as for Instance the British Military Attache In Tokyo. It appears, however, that the permission for Captain Parker was ranted very reluctantly by the high military "gentlemen in Tokyo after long and difficult "negotiations. Moreover it was only granted on the strict understanding that the interview must take place In the presence of English-speaking Japanese and that nothing should be discussed between the visitors and Colonel Spear about his case or about the steps—-It fany—that HM, government were {aking to obtain his early tele It Is therefore not so very surpris~ Ing, at least to the ordinary, unofficial "person. that Colonel Spear, when first Informed of the visit, objected. to seeing the two ofoers on the grounds of "What's the use?" This first reac tion of his has, I understand, been explained away in oeial eireles—somrewhat superficially to my mind—az being dure to the mental strain caused by his long detention. But the ordinary, normal person will scarcely: gree with this explanation, Seeing that, after being "held la detention for three months, at his fisst_mecting with his fellow-emeers he is at (o be allowed to discuss with 1m, his ease, which naturally was Alling his thoughts morning, noon and night, Colonel" Spear's reaction of disappointment and indignation, seems perfectly nwural and normal, That this visit, nothing but a kind of pri" son visit, merely for the purpose of enquiring Into. his personal elrcum= stances and his health, about. which latter, anyhow, he had at no time compinined, must have seemed ale most adding insult to injury.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.