PROF. VON ZEDLITZ

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2557, 3 September 1915, Page 7

PROF. VON ZEDLITZ

PLACES HIMSELF UNRESERVEDLY IN COUNCIL'S HANDS ' • i .■ "NOT A GERMAN SUBJECT" In a lottcr sent by Professor . von iodlitx to each momber of the Victoria College Council, the Professor replies :o various matters that have been nnler public review in regard to his re:ention of his present position. The cttcr is as under: — "Dear Sir,—My appointment as Processor of Modem Languages at Victoria College took place in 1901. "When informing me of tie appointment, the Agent-Goneral for New /Zealand, Mr. I'ember lleeves, having before him full particulars of 'my origin and career, iskcd mo whether I .intended 'settling permanently in New Zealand. I assured him t'hat that was my liopo and intention, and Tie in - turn formally assured me that, if I proved myself a useful citizenjof New.-Zealand, I should be exposed to no sort of discrimination on the ground of nationality. • "This assurance was amply borne out by the treatment I rcceived_ here until recently. But when Britain declared war upon Germany, I-realised that so formidable a change of circumstances might make tho Council of Victoria College wish to dispense with my services. As the council has always'-treated mo Veil, I felt it incumbent upon me to relieve them, if they wanted to get rid of mo, of the embarrassment of taking the first , stop, and on August 4, 1914, I handled fliy resignation to the then chairman of the council, Mr. H. H; Ostler. 1 "A few days later I accepted the assurance of the chairman that the council in 110 way desired or expected my j resignation, and agreed to withdraw my g letter of resignation. Thp. subsequent conduct of the council towards me showa. conclusively 'that Mr. Oatlar's n view was correct. Similarly, any fears that my teaching might be handicapped under present circumstances have been altogether dispelled. The students, while showing as admirable practical v patriotism, treated me with an unspoken t sympathy and helpfulness which I can- i, .not-find adequate words-to describe, d As regards administrative work, _ I t ithdrew voluntarily from everything f the kind "until invited by my coi- J lagues, in kindly terms, to resume at- J jndance at meetings of the Profes- t ririal Board. ; In short every section E tho Victoria College, the council, Pro- j :ssp'rial Board, graduates, students, nd employees have treated me most onerously ever since, and have recog- j ised that I am entitled to my share- | f credit for that public-spirited and j atriotic 'atmosphere which has helped , o send over 200 of our students to the * ront. ■ J "Meanwhile, every kind of wild rum- . ur was busy with my name, and anonylous attacks became, persistent. I was ! ot prepared to resign under pressure of ' hat kind.. I'still think if I may prc : s mho to say so that the attitude of the ! ouncil was a credit to, the Domonion, nd-that in a few years' time all parties ' .'ill look upon it as a fine instance of < iritish justice, and ■ promise-keeping. ' so one lias accused me of any wrong- ' loing, or of ; the slightest breach in my luties as a; loyal New Zealander, and. if : may quote the generous words attainted'to Sir Robert Stout in referring 0 my case in"The Evening Post" of August 26: —'The foundation of our ; livilisation-rests on this, that the State, is such, must give praise to those who ire worthy and, punish ; those who do ill. .f there is to be no distinction made beween'right conduct, then civilsation has_ departed from us.' The Colego Council has loyally carried but. to- - vards mo these high ideals' of the Chief i lustice, and I do not see that it was my msiness to frustrate its purpose by inlisting on resignation. .The council 1 mew that the least hint that my retirement would be acceptable to it would lave led to my immediate resignation, tnd it seems to me that my duty went 10 further than that. "Now the whole case is changed, and .rresistible pressure is threatened against the council 1 by tho highest authority in the country. I therefore respectfully desire the council to deal with me in any nanner they please, and place myself inreservedly in their hands for that purpose. : _ r . ' . v "During the whole campaign against no I have kept silence. Now that tho slow-haß fallen, and l ean no longer be suspected of making humbugging protestations of loyalty in order to save myself, it seems to me only fair to the souncil and to those others who have bravely spoken up for me, in the teeth jf unpopularity, that I should lay before you the facts of my case. "I am not a German subject, and I awe no allegiance to ■ Germany; to Britain I owe all that I am and have. It is scarcely conceivable to me how any sane being-could regard me as a possiblo spy Dr traitor to the people among whom 1 have lived all my life, and from whom I have received unvaryingly just treatment until now. It is true, and I would scorn to deny it, that, being of German descent, I havo a strong sentimental feeling for Germany;'l'know that she has rendered great serviijes to human progress in. tho past, and believe she will do so in tho future; There is no disloyalty in that; I feel tho same for France, which is supposed to' be the original home-of my family. I have taken the oath of allegiance to Queen Victoria, and again to King Edward vll, and again to King George V, and would take it again now, if allowed; and tho suggestion that I approve or extenuate acts of treachery and barbarism committed by Germans, or. in the name of Germany, is an odious and :utterly unfounded calumny. No tittle of ovidence has been or could bo brought to this effect, and no self-respecting man would think me guilty of it, -<mh tho whole-evidence of. my life and teaching to the contrary. I utterly loathe and detest such acts; by whomsoever committed, and when. Germans are responsible for them, they are even more distressing to me than to one who has no'-German blood in his veins. ''I ma y add that- I cheerfully realise that a large part of the feeling against me is due to honourable motives and | ignorance of the facts. Whatever may happen to mis now, I still owe more to ' British protection and justice than I can hope to repay, and I tender to the members of tho council my sincere thanks for their confidence in me, — And remain, "Your obedient servant, "(Signed) G. W. VON ZEDLITZ." Mr. R. F. AVeenink, of the National Provident Fund Department, who has joined the 9th Mounted Reinforcements, was yesterday made tho recipient of a useful gift from his fellow officers; Mr. 11. E. Hayos, the superintendent, who made the presentation, echoed tho kindly feelings of tho staff towards Mr. AVeenink. Visitors staying at tlw Albert Hotel are Mr. D. AV.vatt, Mr. \V. I<\ Bucknell, and Mr. AV. AYliyte, of Wcstport.'