Evening star., 1949-05-16
(Continued From First PAGE


he did"
The bespectacled 52-year-old
Communist had been ordered
earlier by a Southampton magis-
trate's court to show cause in
Bow Street why Britain should not
send him back to the United States
to face a jail term for perjury.
While Eisler was arriving in
London, Home Secretary EIDE was
telling the House of Commons the
government had to wait on the
court decision before determining
whether Eisler could be extra
dited.
Reginald Paget. Labor member,
asked Mr.. EIDE, whose department
supervises British courts. to make
a statement on the Eisler case.
II Degradation Charged.
William GALLAGHER. a Communist
member Of Parliament. asked Mr.
EIDE:
"Is there no limit to the depths
Of degradation to which this
country can be drawn at the
command Of American"
The speaker Of the House in
tervened with:
That is an improper insinua-
ton"
GALLAGHER asked for an adjourn
ment, which would have made
possible q full Commons debate
on the issue. The speaker re-
jected the motion and the House
went on to other business.
Eisler jumped his $23. 500 bail in
the United States, slowed away"
on the polish liner Batory and
later paid a passenger fare. He
was carried of the ship Saturday
by British authorities pending
court actions to decide whether he
is a political refugee or q Grim
inal whose. return is required
under a British American extra
dition treaty.
Polish Diplomats In Court.
Four Polish diplomats were at
the court when the car with Eisler
arrived. Polish Ambassador jerry
Michalowski has a date with For
eign Secretary Bevin later In the
day to protest because Scotland
Yard men craried the sQuirnding
|Eisler from the ship. ..
E.s At his hearing in Southampton
Eearlier, before four men and two
women magistrates, Eisler re-
main9d silent.
HE instructs me-" his attorney
said, "that he is quite confident,
that he will be able to demon
strate that the ofiense alleged
against him is an oiense OF i q
political character. which meanS
that this country has no right to
extradite him.
Finally, he instructs me to
protest most strongly against this
forcible abduction from the ship
of friendly country. and this is
an unprecedented breach Of the
ordinary laws Of international
law"
Was Conveyed" From Ship.
Inspector Bray asked the
Southampton court to commit
Eisler for hearing. Under ques-
tioning, Bray said the Polish ship
captain had objected to releasing
Eisler to the Scotland Yard men.
"Eisler was unwilling to leave
the Polish ship. was he not?" Els
ler's lawyer asked.
YES" Inspector Bray replied.
"You say you conveyed him from
the ship. That was an under
statement, was it not?"
Inspector Bray paused, then
answered: mo. he was conveyed
and carried" A ripple Of laughter
went through the courtroom.
Inspector Bray. who led the
Scotland Yard men who arrested
Eisler aboard the Batory, asked
the court to bind Eisler over for
a hearing at Bow Street next
Monday.
Attorney Collard won q counter
argument for immediate commit
ment to Bow Street on the
grounds that only that court could
rule on an application for bail.
Collard was In Moscow during
the 1887 purge trials snd wrote
q book entitled Soviet Justice"
After Inspector Bray had COM
pleted his statement to the court.
Collard said Eisler had been de-
scribed as Americas No. ! Com
muniSt.
HE is not Americas No. !
Communist" Collard said. He Is
not even an American" 4
Collard declared the treatment
given Eisler In the United States
was "a game Of cat and mouse
of which this Is the latest and
I hope the last round"
Declared Always . German.
Eisler sis and always has been
a German and never wanted to
be In the United States" his
lawyer said. He asserted EiSler
fed the Nazis in Europe. intend
ae8