ALIEN ENEMIES.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2523, 31 July 1915, Page 13

ALIEN ENEMIES.

Sir,—Can. you explain how the position of: naturalised. individuals of German, Austrian, or Turkish origin, who are residing in ourmidst, will be affected by "the new definition of an alien; enemy," recently gazetted, and wliioh appears in-your columns to-day? The' definition appears very sweeping,' .but it is somewhat mystifyi&g, by. the implied exception, to tho ordinary mind. t-1 am, etc., V INQUIRER. Masterton, July 21, 1915.

This letter was submitted to the 'At-torney-General (the Hon. A. L. Herdman), who replied as follows: —"The reason for Clause 3 of tho War Regulations made on July 19 is that it has been found that the definition of alien enemy as contained in the original Wa'r Regulations of November 10, '1914, was not sufficiently ivido to cover all person b who should during tho present war be dealt with as alien enemies. From information lately received as to tho German lav- of nationality, it seems that until recently a German lost his nationality by absence from Germany .for a certain period unless he took certain stqps to preserve his' nationality. It may be assumed, therefore, that thero are ill Now Zealand a large number of persons of German birth and descent and sympathies who are not in striSt law still possessed of German nationality. Cases have already come under notice in which persons possess a double nationality, being natural bom British subjects because of birth in Now Zealand, and also German.subjects by reason of descent. It was therefore considered necessary to include such persons in tho list of alien enemies. All referenco to alien enemios in any of the War Regulations (except Regulation 26) now include all persons who come within this extended definition, and they are "subject to the provisions of those regulations accordingly.