GERMAN 3 ANGLOPHOBIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11877, 31 January 1902, Page 3 (Supplement)

GERMAN 3 ANGLOPHOBIA.

CABLE MESSAGES TO MR. CHAMBERLAIN.

PUBLIC MEETING IN AUCKLAND,

A VIGOROUS PROTEST.

SUGGESTED PREFERENTIAL TARIFF. The Auckland City Council had a special meeting- on Jan. 20, and the Mayor took advantage of the opportunity to move a resolution with reference to the recent German slanders on Great Britain. The Mayor (Mr. Alfred Kidd) presided, and the other coun- , cillors present were: Messrs. A. Rosser, J. T. Julian, C. J. Parr, J. H. Hannan, P. Dignan, John McLeod, F. E. Baume, C. Grey, J. "Patterson," H. T. Garratt, and A. E. Glover. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs. Stichbury, Court and Masefield. In addition to the members of the Council there. was a considerable , gathering of citizens, the Council room being crowded. _ The Mayor moved: "That this Council, in the name and en behalf of the citizens of Auckland, indignantly resents the slanderous attacks made in the German press upon tho honour of tho British Empire and upon the Imperial and colonial troops operating _in South Africa, and desires to express its high appreciation of and thanks to the Right Honourable J. Chamberlain for his prompt, vigorous, and effective refutation of . such un-called-for attacks. The Council believes that the adoption of a vigorous military campaign, with the object of speedily terminating the war in South Africa, is a policy dictate;! by considerations of humanity, and it regrets exceedingly that bloodshed has been prolonged by the .action of a section of our own countrymen creating false hopes hi the minds of the enemies of the Empire. In moving the resolution the Mayor said that all through the progress of the Boer war thfi British nation, and esneeially the British army in the field, had been, subject to calumnious .statements on the part of a section of the Continental press. It was won known that it was Boer policy to cause a tissue of misstatements and libellous stories to be spread broadcast, with the desire ot alienating the sympathy of the Continental nations and Governments from tho British cause, and leading them to intervene to the benefit of the Republics. It was equally well known that this was done by newspapers well rewarded by Boer emissaries, and as tinstatements, as fast as they appeared, were refuted by all sorts and conditions of men and women who had been on tho scene, and could therefore ■''■'speak with authority, tho British nation could afford to bear in patience all such would-be vilification. But when a member of Parliament stood up in tho representative body of the German nation and deliberately attacked a Minister of the Crown of tho British nation as " the most accursed scoundrel on God's earth," and stigmatised the British army, including, as it did, our own colonial boys, as a pack of thieves, and when the Chancellor of the German Empire replied in such a speech that it is described as little short of offensive, and when tho German press was applauding both speeches, then it was time for the British lion to show that- even his patience can be stretched to breaking point. (Applause.) And that was what had happened, and :s happening, as north and south, east and west throughout the whole world-wide Empire stand up shoulder to shoulder with an unbroken, front and unanimous voice to repel such slanderous attacks. A few weeks ago similar attacks on the army, and especially on the colonial volunteer portion of it, were amply replied to by the offer of more men, and the response by our colonial youth in threefold numbers; and we perhaps thought no more vilification would arise, but as each lie is exploded and put down (often on evidence of their own countrymen- and army representatives), another and yet another arises, and under such circumstances is it to be wondered at that we grow impatient, and throughout tho Empire raise our voices in indignant reply. The German press had expressed astonishment at the irritation shown by tho nation,, and in making a retreat from tho attitude before taken uip by them tell us to remember the language spoken by some of our own leaders. That is where ihey show soma little justification, but we have to show- them in response that notwithstanding tho ill-judged and unpatriotic remarks to which they allude, they do not reflect in any degree tho groat heart and mind of the Empire, which is as true as ever to constituted authority, and trusts in those at the head of affairs to steer the ship of State with wisdom. (Applause.) Mr. C. J. Parr seconded. He said the resolution was, if anything, too temperately worded. He thought it would have been better to have had a mass meeting earlier in tho day, at which the unanimous feeling of the city might have been expressed. Ho regarded the present attitude of Germany towards Groat Britain as the basest ingratitude. Ho was not an old man, but ho could recall the time when the commerce of Germany was of the most meagre description. In recent years, however, Germany had leaped to the very foremost rank as a great ! trading nation. How had she done it? She had done it at the expense of the British Empire. She had done it through tho '. generous trotament that the fiscal laws of the British Empire, had extended to her. The Mother Country had thrown her ports open, and tho colonies had also afforded Germany a market, and had not attempted in any way to differentiate between the products of the German workshop and the products of the Mother Country. For that leniency and generosity the British Empire had been rewarded by Germany vilifying her statesmen and attempting to dishonour the British army and in every possible way to pin-prick the "British nation. There was, ho thought, one remedy for that, and that was to show towards German products that wo will have none of them, and no doubt tho policy of this country would take that direction before long. (Applause.) But if these were their feelings towards Germany what must be their feelings towards men of our own race who had availed themselves of the freedom given by the 'British flag to vilify our army, to talk of our methods as being barbarity, and in every possible way to harass the Government of the day. There was no doubt that these countrymen of ours, so-called party leaders, were responsible for the continuance' of this war, and it was right that New Zealandors —and he spoke as a young New Zcalandcr—should show these pro-Boers at Home that this country at least had no sympathy whatever with them. (Loud applause.) That this country indeed despises tho men who are traitors to their King and to their country. (Applause.) They should show to the world that they wore not to have ; peaco unless it was with honour, with honour to the British Empire, and with honour in particular to tho colonies, who had sent their best sons to die on the veldt so that wo might have a better and a perfect freedom, and have our own self-respect. Mr. A. Rosser said it was with pleasure that lie echoed the sentiments of the Mayor and Mr. Parr on this question. He thought it time that the British Empire rose to refute the slanders of the German press. Seven contingents had left the shores of New Zealand, an eighth was about to leave, and a ninth was being spoken of. These men had left from a spirit of duty when tho Empire calls, and they had boon branded as a pac.c of thieves. Australia and Canada were in the same position. Their men had gone forth at tho Empire's call and had been branded as everything ignoble. They had to remember that in Germany there was a strict censorship of tho public press, and in such circumstances it was evident that tho German press were speaking for somebody higher than themselves. Though the censorship of tho press in Germany was severe, yet in trie case of the slanders on the British army they had not been reproved. Nor was (hero any cause for Germany pointing the finger of scorn at the British nation. Tho British nation had indeed during the present war acted too much on humanitarian methods. Boer women and children had been well treated in the concentration camps, and were living in greater comfort than they over did before, while loyalists had been treated almost with disrespect. It had been the parable of the Prodigal Son all over again. Ho had no patience with men who called themselves Britishers and yet took every opportunity of speaking against their country. The question of how the war originated did not trouble him one iota, but the war having been commenced, he considered it would bo treason on his part to hold out any hope or any token of amity until a peaco with honour had been completed. - ■

Mr. J. 11. Hannan said ho thought the Mayor should have called 'tho people _ of Auckland together, and got the resolutions carried by thousands. Our young men had been charged with outrage. It was the duty of the people to throw that back in tho teeth of the Germans and the Dutch. CawpbellBannorman, he believed, had changed hia name once. He should change it again, and leave Britain's shores His name would bo handed down to posterity as a traitor and a coward. Ho did no! deserve tho name of a man, nor did that low blackguard Stead. The people of New Zealand should call on tho Government to keep German stuff out of tho country, and f?ive employment to our own people. • (Applause.) y He . believed good would come out of this. He believed it would cause: tho English-speaking people to form an Anglo-Saxon alliance.

X-: Mr. : :■' Jno. McLeod supported the :resolution. / Ho said Britishers had nothing to be ashamed of ;in their country. They had always welcomed the oppressed of every country. He believed the German outburst was the result of ignorance. - They did not know what the British people are. The colonies had already . shown their loyalty by the despatch of contingents, and he was pleased "to think they had a Premier at the head of the colonv who thoroughly understood tho situation. (Applause.) _ Mr. F. E. Bauine thought" they might, almost have oassed a vote of thanks to tho Boers and to the Germans. He thought they owed a deep debt of gratitude to the Boers. It' was this war that really brought tho Imperial solvit to the front. From every corner of tho Empire there had been responses to the .Empire's call, and it was not a temporary outburst; it was a deeply - seated, deeoly-felt affection for tho Empire and for the" flag, an affection that had stood strain after strain nut -upon it, and not merely an excitable response at the moment of danger. It had been said that a former leader of a political party— he could not believe that" Camr>bei!-Bannerman was now the : leader of any party in England—and others had raised false hopes. Their crime was not in raising false hopes; their crime was in treason to the flag. He believed that at the root these slanders were instigated by commercial jealousy. It was a war or trade. England had had a wonderful career in the world's markets, and Germany had entered into competition for that trade. He did not for one moment think that tho German Emperor was at the bottom of it. : L there was one thing more than another that made him proud of an opportunity to speak that night, it was that Licbennann, whoso speech they had all been condemning, was an antiSomite. The question of a preferential tariff had been raised. ' He sincerely hoped the Parliament of New Zealand would pass a preferential tariff. He did not say there, should be free trade between England and the colonies, but whatever duty it was found necessary to out on British goods should be doubled against tho rest of the world. (Applause.) If there was any man in Auckland who did not support the resolution submitted by tho Mayor, then that,man should not remain in Auckland any more than Carapbell-Bannerman and Stead should remain in England. , ' . The resolution was then put, and carried with enthusiasm, councillors and citizens standing and cheering to the echo, and singing "God Save the King." Cheers were given for tho King, Mr. Chamberlain, tho Premier, and the Mayor. Mr. Rosser moved, "That the Mayor be authorised to cable tho resolution to the Secretary of State for the Colonies." Mr. Hannan seconded, and the motion was unanimously adopted. - A suggestion was made by Mr. Hannan that the Mayor should call a public meeting, to discuss the question, but the Mayor pointed out that time was the essence of tho matter, and that it would be well to at once cablo what. had been done to Mr. Chamberlain.

GREAT MEETING IN WELLINGTON. STIRRING ADDRESSES. CONFIDENCE EXPRESSED IN. MR, CHAMBERLAIN. :i ' Wellington, January 17. There was an enormous crowd at the public meeting convened by the Mayor today to protest against the recent Continental slanders against the British nation. Tho gathering was held in the Theatre Royal, which proved all too small to accommodate the thousands who sought admission. Prominent on the stage were members of the Ministry and Parliament, city councillors, and leading citizens. The following motion was proposed by Mr, John Duthie, seconded by Mr. R. C. Bruce, and carried: —" That the citizens of the city of Wellington in public meeting assembled desire to express—(l) their emphatic approval of the attitude of the British Government in the conduct of the South African war, and to record their appreciation of the complete refutation by the Right Hon. Joseph Chamberlain, of tho foreign slanders upon the honour of the British forces serving in South Africa; (2) that the Premier be requested to transmit a copy of the foregoing resolution to the Secretary of State for the Colonies." Stirring speeches were made by the mover and seconder, their utterances being supplemented by the Chief Justice, tile Premier, Sir Joseph Ward, and others whose remarks were received with loud applause. "','.', Mr. -Seddon, in his address, emphasised the necessity of bringing the war in South Africa to a conclusion, and declared tjiat if more men were wanted at the front after the Eighth Contingent, more would be forthcoming from New Zealand. Whatever number of men was required to help to bring'tho campaign to a conclusion they should go. In one way, regrettable though they were, tho slanders of the German press were a blessing in disguise, for they had brought home to the world the homogeneous nature of the British Empire, and the determination of the people to uphold the honour of the country and flag. Subsequently an overflow meeting was addressed from the steps of . the General Post Office by Mr. Seddon. Sir Joseph Ward, Mr. "Beauchamp, the Rev. Mr. Bond, and Miss Seddon, and amidst loud cheering resolutions were carried expressive of the horror of the women of New Zealand at the calumnies circulated in Germany reflecting on the honour of the sons and husbands of the women of the colonies and the Motherland, and expressing complete confidence in Mr. Chamberlain and sympathy with the efforts made by him to defend the fair name of the British army from its foul calumniators.

Shortly before the meeting commenced the bells in the post office tower were wildly pealed, and bunting was displayed on several business houses. At the overflow meeting, held at the post office steps, one of the features was an address by Miss Seddon, daughter of the Premier.

PUBLIC DEMONSTRATION IN DUNEDIN. Dttnedi}?, January 17. The Garrison Hall was crowded to the doors to-night by citizens responding to the request of the 'Mayor to attend and pass resolutions protesting against the foreign slanders on the British and colonial soldiers. The meeting was one of the most demonstratively enthusiastic gatherings ever held in Dunedin, and was quite 'equal to that at which the patriotic fund was launched. i The Mayor opened with a brief patriotic address. The Rev. P. W. Fairclough, in a stirring speech, during which he was frequently, cheered, moved, " That this meeting of citizens of Dunedin, having heard with indignant amazement that certain German newspapers had grossly slandered the British forces in South Africa, the colonial contingents, the spirit and honour of the nation, the Right Hon. J. Chamberlain, and even Queen Alexandra herself, indignantly resents this crusade of vilification, and affirms with all possible emphasis its belief in the justice of the British cause and the chivalry of the Imperial and colonial troops." The motion was seconded by Dr. Win. Brown. The second resolution was moved by Mr.' E. B. Cargill to the effect that this'meeting desires to convey to the Right Hon. J. Chamberlain its admiration of the spirited and patriotic maimer in which he has vindicated tho honour of Great Britain, and further desires to express entire confidence in tho conduct of the South African war by the British Government, and in the able administration of Lord Milner. This was seconded by Mr. James Allen, M.H.R. On tho motion of Mr. D. E. Theomin (president of the Chamber of Commerce), seconded by Mr. R. Ferguson (president of the Trades and Labour Council), it was decided to ask the Governor to forward the second resolution by cable. $ The meeting was a representative, one. Between the speeches patriotic songs were sung, the audience joining in the chorus. ! Tho meeting concluded with the singing of . " God Save the King." I.■ 1 • 1

MESSAGE FROM MB. CHAMBERLAIN.Wellington, January 22. Tho Governor has received the following reply to the message forwarded to the Secretary of State conveying the resolution 'carried by a public meeting on Friday : — " The Government and the people of the United Kingdom gratefully appreciate the repudiation by 'a, meeting of citizens of New Zealand, addressed by the Prime Minister, of slanders on the British forces in South Africa, and on the conduct of the war. The approval of the colony, which has shown such sacrifices for the Empire and its Sovereign, is a source of the greatest satisfaction to His Majesty's Government. I desire at the same time to express my personal thanks;for the expression of .-confidence .contained in the second resolution.. (Signed) .Gus^vsh£Q\."- :

The Mayor ;of Auckland received on Friday from r the . Hon. Joseph Chamberlain, Secretary of State for the Colonies, the following cable '■■ hi reply to the resolution passed at a meeting of the City Council on ;January 20, regarding the recent German slanders :—" Thank you, for resolution of Auckland City Council. We appreciate the patriotism everywhere displayed by our fellow subjects in •.'•'Australasia.—Chamber-; LAIN"." The Auckland Tailors'. Union have en-' tered their protest against the recent, German slanders, and at their last meeting passed a resolution urging the master tailors not to purchase material made in Germany,as the* members of the union object ■'. o make up garments from German material, as a protest against the German hostility to England and their slanders on the Britisn army. ..' ' At a meeting of the Auckland Builders and Contractors' Union of Employers, held .on January 15, the following resolution was unanimously agreed to : — In view of the scandalous expressions of hostility towards the British army and the Colonial Secretary, which are persistently maintained by a, large section of- the German press and people, this association deems it a matter of duty to discourage as far as possible the use of ironmongery, etc., 'made in Germany.' Further, that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, urging that body to use its influence towards rescuing tho colonies from German manufactures." The Auckland Trades and Labour Council have unanimously passed the following resolution:"That * this Council requests that the members of the unions affiliated and the workers of Auckland refrain from purchasing German goods as a protest to the recent utterances of Count 'von Bulow and the German press and people." Duxedin, January 21. The Port Chalmers Borough, Council unanimously adopted an anti-German resolution, and placed on record their admiration of the firm, dignified attitude of the Imperial Government with reference to the South African war. : '* , PAr.MEiiSTON- North, January 22. The Borough Council last evening passed a resolution protesting against the coarse and false charges made by certain statesmen and foreign press against the British and colonial troops in South Africa, and congratulating Mr. Chamberlain on his deI fence of the army. The resolution' will be ! forwarded Home through the Premier.