MUCH COMMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 169, 20 July 1939, Page 20

MUCH COMMENT.

GERMAN ACTIVITIES. QUESTION OF ALLEGIANCE. NAZI PARTY IN SYDNEY. (From Our Correspondent.) •SYDNEY, July 14. Activities of Germans in Au-traln i lmve been tlic subject of much eonime.ii this week. It bewail when a liew-papor referred to tin- acting-Con-ul-General for (iermany, Dr. Seger. a statement ill the "Deutsche Allgemeine Zeiatun lz" that i-eltlers of Germ-in de-cent wore organised in Australia under the swastika. Dr. Seiner said there must be some mi-take, as derm,in nationals in foreign countries wore forbidden to carry on political propaganda or to try to obtain adherent* for the Nazi party. Germany recognised that Australians of German ■le-eent owed allegiance only to Australia. The swa-tika applied only to (fermtin subject -. Apparently the figure of 00.000 wis obtained from the fact that there are (iII.(MM) people in Australia of Gemini descent, of whom IT.'HH) are German born, and of whom .">OO are in New South Wale*, are lierman citizens. Following up the matter, "The Sun" made some inquiries about the branch of the Nazi party which exists in Sydney. It appears that there are about 70 members. (Icrmans who ha\o not been naturalised. They hold their meetings once a month in t lie premise* of the Concordia Club, but they merely hire fhe hall and are alleged to have no direct affiliation with the Concordia Club. Trouble at Camp. Swastikas are displayed in the hall at the party meetings, but when the Concordia Club recently celebrated its •Vith anniversary, only one swastika was seen in the hall and the gathering sang "God Save the King.'' In the Concordia Club are many naturalised German-. ,-oine of whom are not very sympathetic towards the Hitler regime. It* acthitieare said to be purely social, political discussions being forbidden. Associated with the Nazi party brand* in Sydney is the German Worker-' Front, whose chief responsibility is the welfare of Germans vi-iting Australia, such as the crews of ships. They are often taken to a camp at Narrabeen, and there lias already been trouble there because oi the alleged arrogance and liigli-handed actions i.f some of the Nazis. 1 here »- also a Blind of the German Clubs of Au-tralia and New Zealand which meets monthly at the Concordia 4 lull.

Prompt protest was made in Sydney thi* week by 'lie Minister for External Affairs. Sir Henry (iullett. to Dr. Seger. against a remark made by the first sec retary of the (ierman Consular oflice in Melbourne. Mr. W. Bla-ing. Ketcrring to the Danzig dispute. Mr. Biasing was reported to have said that England was putting her finger into a pie which did not concern her. Propaganda Question. Sir Henry Oullett asked Dr. Seger to see him, and pointed out that it was "unite U'Vond the function of any consular service in Australia to engage in [ propaganda directed again-t the l'nite.l Kingdom." Sir Henry told Dr. Seger that Au-tralia desired frii ndly relationwith Oermany. and it was therefore "extremely undesirable, and indeed intolerable. that a member of his -taff should 'adopt a course that could only lead to difficulties." Dr. Seger is acting-Consul-fieiieml during the absence from Australia o,i long leave of Dr. Acmis. It was recently suggested that Dr. Asmis may not return. Militant Nazis in Sydney are said t'» consider that he has been too placatory ill his efforts to unite the Xa/.i and "not-so-Xazi"' functions .in the German community in Australia, and it is stated that they have made representations to Herr Hitler accordingly.