HAW HAW CHARGED

Grey River Argus, 27 June 1945, Page 7

HAW HAW CHARGED

WITH HIGH TREASON Birthplace Uncertain NATIONALITY IN DOUBT LONDON, June 25. William Joyce (Loi’d Haw Haw) appeared at Bow Street to-day charged with high treason. Fourteen men wearing black bow ties, waited in the queue at Bow Street. The first arrived at 6 a.m., but when the Court opened at 10.15 only six bow tie men got in. One of them said': “We have come to show Joyce that his friends are behind him.”

Mr Head, for Joyce, said his client pleaded not guilty and did not wish to give evidence. Joyce was not a British subject, he said, and an alien owed allegiance to the King only while resident in Britain.

Mr I. A. Byrne, for the prosecution, submitted that aliens in some circumstances owed allegiance to the Crown, just as British subjects owed allegiance at all times and at all places. High treason, her said, was an offence committed against the duty of allegiance to the Crown. Mr Byrne said that Joyce declared in 1933 he was a British subject by birth, having been born in Ireland on April 24, 1908. He made a declaration when he applied to the Foreign Office for a passport, and made similar declarations when he applied for a renewal of a passport in 1938. 1939 and 1940.

Mr Byrne produced a German passport which showed Joyce’s name as Wilhelm Hansen, birthplace, Galway, Ireland. A German work book, which came into the possession of the military authorities also showed his birthplace as Galway, Ireland. ■ The F'rosecutor also produced a statement, alleged to have been made to Captain Soarden. of the Intelligence Corps, on May 31, in which Joyce said: “I was born at Brooklyn on April 24, 1906. My father was born in Ireland and my mother in Lancashire. I understand, although I have no documents to prove it, that my father was an American by 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 also said he believed he acquired German nationality in 1940, but did not possess a certificate. In the alleged statement Joyce said that in 1933 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 profoundly disguted with the policy of the British Government, firstly, because he thought it would lead to the destruction of the British Empire; and secondly, because he considered the economic system was inadequate for the times. He was greatly impressed by the constructive work done by Hitler for Germany. He thought a British-German war would be a tragedy which the Empire would not survive. Because of his opinions and his conscious disposition not to fight for Britain against Germany, he decided to leave the country, since he did not wish to apply as a conscientious objector and he felt he should have opportunities of expressing his views in Germany. He decided to make his permanent home in Germany. In the alleged statement he further stated: “It remained mv undivided purpose to effect a reconciliation, or at least a better understanding between the two countries. After the United States and Russia entered the war, such an agreement seemed no less desirable. I know I have been denounced as a traitor, and resent the accusation. I can understand the resentment my broadcasts aroused in many quarters. Whatever the opinions of my broadcasts, I submit the .final judgment cannot be properly based until it sees whether Britain can win the peace.” Joyce said he would like to stress the fact that in working for the German radio his wife was powerfully influenced bv him.

Mr Byrne read from a document which he stated was a contract between Joyce and Reichardund Funk, which Joyce acknowledged was his property. Mr Byrne said the _ contract, referred to Joyce as Wilhelm Foelich, and appointed him as head commentator of the English department of the German broadcasting stations at a monthly salary of 1200 reichmarks, plus travelling expenses. Another document stated that Joyce was awarded the Cross of War Merit, First Class, signed by Hitler and Meissner.

Mr Byrne said it appeared that Joyce had acquired German nationality during the war; but in law a British subject could' not acquire foreign nationality in wartime. Indeed, it was an act of treason to do so. It was one of the treasonable acts, alleged against Joyce. The other treasonable act was the service which Joyce rendered to the German broadcasting system. Joyce had acknowledged these acts in his statement.

A passport officer gave evidence that when Joyce applied for a passport in 1933 he declared himself a British subject born in Galway. Captain Alexander Lickerish, of a British Reconnaissance Regiment, said he and another officer were gathering wood' near Flensburg, when a man whom he now recognised as the accused, spoke to them in French. They replied in German, after which Joyce made remarks in English. Witness immediately recognised the voice as one he heard over the radio. The other officer then said: “You wouldn’t happen to he William Joyce, would you?” When Joyce made as if to put his hand in his pocket, the other officer fired and wounded the accused. Joyce, however, was founded to be unarmed. After formal evidence of identification and translation of the documents found in Joyce’s possession, Mr Byrne said the case for the Crown was complete, and asked for a formal remand for a week or some other period and committal to the July sessions of the Central Criminal Court. , , rx , Mr Head', for Joyce, . submitted his client was nol a British subject and the Crown had not proved that he was. . n x 1 , Mr Byrne, replying, said that every declaration Joyce had made was to the effect he was a British subject. If Joyce desired to indicate that he was not, some evidence mieht be heard. The Magistrate (Sir Bernard Watson) said he was satisfied there was a sufficient and proper case to go before the Central Criminal Court. The formal commital would not take place until Thursday. BORN IN U.S.A. “HAW HAW’S ,r BIRTH RECORD, PRODUCED. (Rec. 9.55). NEW YORK, June 26. The Brooklyn Health Department shows the birth as recorded of one, William Joyce, born on April 24, 1906, Herkimer Street, Brooklyn.