Evening star., 1942-01-28
g Indicted Here
As AsPropaganda
Agents Of Japan
Americans, kipponese
Accused Of Spending
$l75,000 in Plot

AuuCC hIuCIlCdlS dllu LLlIcC
Japanese, who allegedly con-
Quoted a propaganda agency in
this country for Japan previous
to the war, were indicted by the
District grand jury today on a
charge Of conspiracy to violate
the Foreign Agents Registration
Act.
The Americans named In the in
dictment are: Ralph Townsend, as.
sociated with Scribner's Commenta-
tors, publication which has figured
in the inquiry into Nazi propaganda;
David Warren Ryder, publisher and
publicity man in San Francisco, and
Frederick Vincent Williams, former
newspaperman and publicity agent
In San Francisco:
The Japanese named are: Tsu-
tomu Obana, secretary of the Japa-
nese Chamber of Commerce In San
Francisco; K. Takahashi, former
manager Of the N. Y. K. steam
ship line in San Francisco, who is
now In Japan, and s. Takeuchi, for
mer manager of the Mitsubishi Co..
japanese importers.
S175,o0e Fund Charged.
The indictment charges that the
men were associated with the dis
tribution Of propaganda in this
country on behalf of Japan and that
their activity was financed by the
Japanese government. 1t was
charged that the propaganda or
ganization had used more than
sl75,0O0 in its effort-a major part
of which was furnished directly by
the Consulate General of Japan in
San Francisco.
For this reason, two former jap
anese Consuls General i Kanzo
Shiosaki and Toshito Sato-were
named in the indictment as CO.
conspirators, but were not indicted.
Both have returned to Japan.
The central propaganda agency,
according to the indictment, was
the japanese Committee on Trade
and Information, "Jikyoku Iinkai,"
which had headquarters in San
Francisco and was subsidized direct
ly and indirectly by the japanese
| government.
This committee, it was charged,
was organized by Takahashi, Ia
keuchi, Shiosaki and other Japa-
nese nationals residing in this
country.
Propaganda Plan Outlined.
The grand jurors said that Mr..
Williams was employed by the COM
mittee as a public relations counsel.
In that capacity, he delivered lee
lures, wrote articles, arranged radio
programs and otherwise spread
propaganda favorable to the Japa-
nese.
Numerous pamphlets were written
and edited in the names Of Mr..
Townsend and Mr.. Ryder, 1t was
charged, containing propaganda
favorable to the Japanese. These
were distributed in this country
without charge lin a manner which
concealed the foreign political and
financial interests responsible" 1t
was charged.
Among these were America Has
No Enemies in Asia" The High
Cost of Hate" There Is No Half
Way Neutrality" and a monthly
pamphlet, Far Eastern Affairs"
The indictments declare that the
Consulate General of Japan in San
Francisco supplied a major part Of
the SITS 900 spent in the effort and
that the balance came from jap
anese corporations and individuals.
The whole activity. 1t was charged.
was under direction Of the Japanese
government.
Is Counts In Indictment.
There are 16 counts in the indict.
ment, which was returned as a re-
suit of a months investigation on
the West Coast by Special Assistants
to the Attorney General Arthur B.
Caldwell and Albert E. Aren't.
All six of the Americans and jap
anese were named as conspirators.
In addition, the three Americans
were charged with violation Of the
Foreign Agents Registration Acts
because they had not made known
to the State Department that they
were distributing Japanese propa-
ganda.
1t was charged that Mr.. Ryder
and Mr.. Townsend had failed to
register with the State Department
as agents of the Japanese Commit
tee on Trade and Information.
Mr.. Williams, it was charged,
registered with the State Depart
ment as q correspondent of the
Japan Times and Mail-but failed
to disclose that his real Job was the
spreading Of Japanese propaganda
or that he obtained his salary-$350
(See INDICTMENTS. Page A-60