§ 1. Mr. NEEDHAMasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can give any further information about the case of Mr. Andrew Pooley, who was arrested in Tokyo on 29th January and has since been detained in prison; whether he is aware that Mr. Pooley has been denied legal aid in the recent examinations to which he has been subjected; whether the judge of the preliminary Court was in favour of releasing Mr. Pooley on bail, but the procurator objected on the ground that he had not yet confessed; and whether the Government, in view of the assurances given when extra-territoriality was surrendered, will make representations with a view to his release on bail?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir Edward Grey)Mr. Pooley was released on bail of £200 on the 22nd instant. I am informed by His Majesty's Ambassador at Tokyo that Mr. Pooley, who has been visited in prison by His Majesty's Consul-General, has been treated in precisely the same manner as is usual with untried persons. He has been at liberty to see counsel in the presence of a prison official, but as the principle of the preliminary examinations is secrecy, has not been allowed to discuss his case with them nor to obtain legal advice. According to the Japanese criminal code bail could not be granted until the procurator had given his opinion on the case.