The slaying of a Jewish boy at Harbin by a group of White Russians was called to the attention of Sir Alexander Cadogan, British Minister to China, by N. E. B. Ezra, editor of “Israel’s Messenger,” monthly journal published here.
Sir Alexander was told that Mr. Igguchi, a high Japanese police official at Harbin, had issued a statement to the press in connection with the kidnaping and murder of Simon Kaspe, a French citizen, in which the Japanese said the crimes were justified.
“He stated that in his opinion Kaspe was put to death by the White Russians because he was a Jew,” Ezra said. “He said that the White Russians, exiled from their homeland, have grievances against the Jewish people for ruining their country and identifying themselves with Communism.”
Because of these circumstances, the journalist reported that Mr. Igguchi said the killers are entitled to leniency.
“The exoneration of the culprits,” the journalist said, “has thrown the Jewish community in Harbin into a state of panic and terror. It implies that Jewish lives are no longer safe when criminals are shielded and even lauded.”
The British envoy listened attentively and promised to have the matter investigated with a view to making friendly representations to the proper authorities.
Edwin S. Cunningham, United States Consul General here, was also interviewed by Ezra on the same subject and promised to write to the Harbin consulate to intervene.
Ezra told a Jewish Telegraphic Agency correspondent that he hoped the American Jewish Committee would approach the Japanese Ambassador at Washington and lay before him the desperate situation of Harbin Jews.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
