NOT BRITISH

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 149, 26 June 1945, Page 5

NOT BRITISH

4 "LORD HAW-HAW'S'! PLEA CASE TO 60 FOR TRIAL] \ (By Telegraph—Press Assocration—Co&yrijhtJj:, Rec. 10 a.m. LONDON, June 25} William Joyce ("Lord Haw-Haw")J appeared at Bow Street today cftarged> with high, treason. Mr. Head, for Joyce, said that his client pleaded • not guilty and did not wish to giveevidence. Joyce was not a British; subject, he said, and an alien owed> allegiance to the King only while • resident in Britain. , _.. . The Magistrate. Sir Bernard Wat-j son, said he was satisfied that there was a sufficient and proper case to go* before the Central Criminal Court. A. formal committal would not take place until Thursday. " Mr. L. A. Byrne, for the prosecution, produced a German passport which showed Joyce's name as Wilhelm Hansen and his birthplace as Galwav, Ireland. A German work-, book which came into the possession! of the military authorities also showed his birthplace as Galway,- Ireland' Earlier, Mr. Byrne had submitted that aliens in some circumstances owed, allegiance to the Crown jusS as British subjects owed allegiance at all times and at all places. High: treason, he said, was an offence committed against the duty of allegiance to the Crown. Mr. Byrne said that Joyce had declared in 1933 that he was a British subject by birth, having been" born in Ireland on April 24; 1906. He made a declaration when he applied to the Foreign Office for a 1 passport, and made similar declarations when he applied for renewals, of the passport in 1938, 1939, and1 1940.. ATTRACTION TO NAZISM. The prosecutor produced an alleged statement made to Captain Scardeay of the Intelligence Corps, on May 3U in which Joyce said: "I was born at Brooklyn on . April 24, 1906. Myj father was born in Ireland, and mx mother in Lancashire. I understand* although I* have no documents to prove it,'that my father was ail American toy naturalisation at the time of my birth, but I believe he lost his American citizenship later by failing to renew it because we left the country in 1909." Joyce said he be- : lieved that he acquired German nationality in 1940. but that he did1 not possess a certificate. In an alleged statement, Joyce said that in 1923 he was attracted to Fascism and subsequently to National Socialism. He said that between 1933! and 1939 he pursued vigorous political! activities in England. He was pro-j foundly disgusted by the policy of thd British Government, first because he, thought it would lead to the destruc-] tion of the British Empire and* secondly because he considered the. economic system inadequate at times.. He was greatly impressed by the constructive work done .by Hitler for, Joyce said he thought that war between Britain and Germany would be a tragedy which the Empire could not survive. He said that because of his] opinions and his conscious disposition! not to fight for Britain against Ger-4 many he decided to leave the country^ since he did not wish,to apply as a/ conscientious objector. He felt n& should have opportunities of express^ ing his views in Germany. He decided to make his permanent home in] Germany. "It remained my undivided! purpose to effect a reconciliation, ok at least a better understanding, be 4 tween the two countries. After America^ and Russia entered the war," he said^ "such an agreement seemed no less desirable. I know I have been de-, nounced as a -traitor, and I resent the, accusation. I can understand the resentment my broadcasts aroused in] many quarters. Whatever ■ are thej opinions of my broadcasts, I submitt that final judgment cannot be properly^ based until it is seen whether Britain? can win the peace." WORK FOR GERMAN RADIO. j Joyce said he would like to stress, the fact that in working for the German radio .his. wife, was powerfully in* fluenced by him. ■ . , Mr. Byrne, reading from a document which he stated was a contract between Joyce and the Reichsrundfunk, and which Joyce acknowledged was his property, said that the contract referred to Joyce as Wilhelm Froelich ans appointed him head ■ commentator in! the English department of the German broadcasting stations, at a month-; ly salary of 1200 reichmarks, plus travelling expenses. Another document, which stated that Joyce had been awarded the Cross of War Merit, first class, was signed by Hitler and* Meissner. ;i Mr. Byrne said it appeared that] Joyce acquired German nationality during the war, but in law a Britisnj subject could not acquire foreign* nationality in wartime. Indeed, it was ian act of treason to do so. It wa| ! one of the treasonable acts alleged I against Joyce. The other treasonable I act was the services which Joyce ren-jj i dered to the German broadcasting sys* Item, Joyce had acknowledged these. ! acts in his statement. The Passport Office gave evidence that when Joyce applied for a pass* port in 1933 he declared himself a British subject, born in Galway. Cap* tain Alexander Lickorish, of the British1 Reconnaissance Regiment, said that he and another officer- were at a gathering in a wood near Flensburg when a mad who was now recognised, as the ac,^ cused spoke to them in French. The^ replied in German, after which Joyce made remarks in English. The wit| ness immediately recognised the voice as one he had heard over the radio^ The other officer then said, "You wouldn't happen to be William Joyce! would you?' and when Joyce made a move as though to* put a hand in his pocket the other officer fired and wounded the accused, who, however^ was found to be unarmed. FINAL SUBMISSION. After formal evidence of identifica* tion and translation of the documents found in Joyce's possession, Mr. Byrne" said that the case for the Crown had been .completed, and asked for a formal remand for a week or some other period and for committal to the July sessions of the Central Criminal Court) Mr. Head, for Joyce, submitted that his client was not a British subject; and that the Crown had not proved that he was. . Mr. Byrne, in replying, said that every declaration Joyce*had made was •to the effect that he was a British. subject. If Joyce desired, or indicated that he was not, some evidence might be heard. ; When Joyce appeared in the Court he was dressed in the same dark suit as on the previous occasion on June 18, and his grey hair was beginning to grow on his shaven head. He was brought to the Court in a closed van; The police guard was double that of a week ago, with reserves of four; divisions. The small Court room was crowded. A queue had formed at 6.15 a.m. Fourteen men wearing black bow, ties waited in the queue, but when the Court opened at 10.15 a.m. only six of them got in, says the "DailM Express." One of them said: "We have come to show Joyce that hi» friends are behind him."' ; .