GOODWILL VISIT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 113, 16 May 1933, Page 5

GOODWILL VISIT.

GERMAN CRUISER. EX-SOLDIERS STAND ALOOF. LUSITANIA ANNIVERSARY. (From Our Own Correspondent.) j SYDNEY, May 12. j Tho German cruiser Koln ]ias come to Australian waters on a "good will" visit to tho eoutlicrn hemisphere. Move prosaically, it may be explained, that every year a cruiser of the German Navy ia sent on a long voyage to train cadets and midshipmen for a naval career, and the Koln is engaged in such a voyage now. Tho German warship has been received cordially enough at her ports of call, except that our returned soldiers have declined to take any active part in welcoming tho vessel and her crew. The Koln reached Sydney at the end of last week, and tho commander decided to emphasise tho friendly nature of the visit by laying a wreath on the Cenotaph, in Martin Place. Accordingly on Sunday morning last, a detachment from tho cruiser, consisting of 180 men and officers, in full uniform, inarched from tho Quay to the Cenotaph, and there deposited the wreath—which, by i tho way, was bound with the old German Imperial colours of black, white I and red, and stamped with the Imperial Cross. The Other Wreath. It so happened that this day (May 7) was tho anniversary of the sinking of the Lusitania, "a tragedy," as the "Sun" reminded us, "caused by the friends of the Koln's men, and costing 1300 lives mainly women and children." The men of the Merchantile Marine and their friends here had already decided to commemorate the anniversary by laying a wreath on the Cenotaph, and at 10.30 a.m., just an hour and a half after the German wreath had been deposited there, this second offering was duly made.

The close coincidence, of these two events was certainly unfortunate and embarrassing, and no doubt tliie fact had a great deal too do with the decision of our Returned Soldiers' League not to be represented at the Cenotaph, when the Koln's wreath was laid there, and not to participate in any attempt to welcome the German warship or her crew. This decision on the part of the R.S.L. has naturally impressed a good many people who were at first inclined to extend "the right hand of fellowship" to the Germans, and it has given rise Uo a controversy in which a certain I amount of strong feeling has been displayed on both sides. The "Sydney Morning Herald," on the day before these ceremonials, had advised the people of Sydney to do all in their power to promote that international friendship of which the visit of the Koln seemed to be symbolical. On the other hand, the "Sunday Sun," though disclaiming any unfriendly feeling toward our visitors, said frankly that though the people of Australia will do nothing actively t# disturb international good will, yet "the leeson of the Lusitania is not forgotten, and possibly never will be. The forgiveness of the Auetralian citizen," it added, "and that of the world at large, will be largely conditioned by the spirit in which the new rulers of Germany fulfil their duty au.l their trust."

Feelings Too Strong. This attitude, and the course adopted by the H.S.L., evoked strong criticism from certain quarters, but the K.S.L. undoubtedly made out a strong case for itself. At Hobart and Adelaide the local branches of the R.S.L. had formally recognised the visit of the Koln and 'paid official calie on the captain. At Melbourne the R.S.L. took no part in the public functions, and made no announcement of its views. But the feelings of the R.S.L. in Xew South Wales seem to have been too strong to be repressed. It hae been pointed out that the proposed wreath offering at the Cenotaph on Sunday followed too closely on the Anzac Day ceremonies, when "the Cenotaph was banked with, flowers by relatives of the soldiers whose lives had been sacrificed in the war with Germany." It was argued that "memories of the war are tstill too keen in the public mind," and the general opinion in the league seems to be- that it is-noj;

yet time to modify its declared policy "in regard to the country which it still blames for plunging tho world into war." " Just as Militaristic To-day." There is also no doubt that the. present state of affairs in Germany had much to do with the stand that the R.S.L. decided to take. It was contended at the league's meeting that racial and class distinction have been provoked and aggravated by the Hitler Government, and that Germany to-day is "just as militaristic as it was in the days immediately preceding the Great War." As an appropriate comment on this view of the question one may quote the statement made by the president of tho local branch of the Newcastle R.S.L. last week, that "It is difficult now for returned soldiers to extend respect and friendship to any man who is a German." These words were used at a conference of churches, councils and other public bodies of the Newcastle district at which a resolution was carried protesting through the British Ambassador in Germany, "against the ruthless barbarism and the outrages perpetrated upon defenceless men, women and children by organised bands of Nazis, known to have the approval and support of the German Government." If t>.e commander of the Koln reflects upon the terms of this resolution, he I will probably understand the feelings which his visit lias aroused among a large and important section of the Australian people.