GERMAN INTERNEES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17258, 6 September 1919, Page 11

GERMAN INTERNEES.

Sir, —From our cradit 1 onwards we "have been educated 10 the tradition ut British fair play; that, in the heart of the British born there lies that inherent, trait which, judges the accused innocent until he is proved guilty. Does the New Zealand public consider that justice is being executed to the German internees at present in our midst'; in writing in this strain I refer particularly to .Mr. 'Paul Hansen, who has now been detained for thiea years. Admittedly, he is technically a ■ German, for he had the misfortune to be born in Schleswig-Holstein of Danish parents after the theft of that province by. Germany, and therefore according to i international law he is a German subject-, though his blood may io Danish. From my knowledge of the man, and his. conversation before this war, commenced, I am convinced that the animosity he then displayed towards the Prussian element, which had taken from him hie country's richest province, was sincere. Hie, father also fought in the Danish navy against Prussia. Then why, if those tradition* which we honour and endeavour to uphold are to be preserved, is this man still kept under restraint, when he has made .every effort to have his case ventilated »nd his faithful adherence to the naturalisation pe.pers he signed twenty years ago proven? As a New Zealander bred and born, whose brother and relatives, have fought, and alas! died iqr Britain., in the : Boer war and this great past struggle. I sincerely trust that the Government will I grant Mr. Hansen's petition for an enI quiry into tie circumstances which placed ' him" in his -present position. No wanton, violator of naturalisation laws enre'.y ■would ask for a public investigation, and I cannot believe that any British Government could, or would, deny -him thai British privilege, or if so refuse to puclish the reason for so doing. ■ .... . .Fair Plat.