GERMAN CONVICTS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 49, 27 February 1908, Page 7

GERMAN CONVICTS.

o. ■ ■ ■ TRANSPORTATION TO COLONIAL PENAL STATIONS. A PROPOSAL. By Telceraph. —Press Association.— Copyright. BERLIN, 26th February. In the Reichstag yesterday Herr Licbert brought forward a motion that the Government be empowered to transport convicts to colonial penal stations. He pointed out that the prevalence of tuberculosis among prisoners in Germany suggested the- necessity tor giving them a chance to start life afresh in the New World. Herr Dcrnberg, Director of the Colo, nial Department, said the Government would continue to examine the question, I which was one needing earnest consideration owing to its financial and international aspectb ; but he did not think it would be expedient to iecommend the House to adopt the resolution. MOTION DEFEATED. (Received, Feb. 27, 8.5 a.m.) BERLIN, 26th February. Herr Liebert's resolution was rejected. Last month it was reported that the Imperial party in the Reichstag was i asking the German Government to mo- ; dify the penal code in order to provide for transportation to the German colonies in the Pacific of long-sentence criminals who were physically and mentally adapted for removal. The German Con-sul-General in Sydney did not attract any importance- to the rumour, pointing out that under tic leciprocity agreement between Britain and Germany both countries undertook not to establish any penal settlement, in or transport convicts to the Western Pacific. Later, Herr Dernberg stated that it was never proposed to transport to German colonies in the Pacific Ocean criminals under sentence, but only persons who had undergone imprisonment, in order to give them an opportunity of rehabilitation. However, the scheme had been blocked by financal difficulties, without mentioning in'.ernational considerations.