THE VISIT OF THE EMDEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20303, 10 July 1929, Page 14

THE VISIT OF THE EMDEN.

I I I - » Sir,—l agree with " Ypres " in liis remarks of the Bth inst., re the hysterical slobbering of the women and some men at the departure of the Emden. No doubt they are a neurotic type, and have nothing" to forget; evidently their only bump was a prosperous one during 1914-18 and since. Surely New Zealanders can give the hand of' friendship to an ex-eremy without slobbering. F.M.

Sir,—l am glad to see by the letter in Monday's issue of the Herald by "Ypres," that there is another Britisher who is sick and ashamed of tho undignilied and disgusting spectacle of the behaviour of tho Auckland public in their ecstatic reception of Captain von Arnauld and his warship Emden. Those of us who have been trying to bury tho past and forget " the bloody deeds that made the whole world reek " of the German U boats and the Emden beforo she was sunk at Cocos, have had all these memories raked up and .bespattered with mud by the tactless visit of this " dove of peace." Tho flood of memories comes back and overwhelms one once more, and instead of being able to hold out a hand of forgiveness and goodwill, one wishes these Germans had stayed away. I do not think this " dovo of peace " will dare to poke her nose into any of the French ports! She would get quite a different reception there, and all those brass buttons would have no effect at all! "Ypres,"" I reach out to you a hand of fellowship, and I thank you for your wholesome letter. I can quite understand your disgust as a British Imperial soldier. A Lover of Dignity.

Sir.—"Ypres' " letter in Monday's issue savours of the hysteria which ho attributes to anyone who behaved in a friendly manner toward tho sailors of the German cruiser. In a few days' time it will be 15 years sinco the world was plunged into tho Great War, and as the outcome of the lessons learnt by all participants tho past 10 years has been spent in endeavouring to promote a permanent, world peace so that, such another cataclysm should not occur. This League of Nations, of which our one time enemy is a member, cannot hope to achieve anything should tho national spirit of any member of tho Leaguo bo malicious toward any other member, and the national spirit is only tho outcome of combined individual feelings. Reflection will show with regret that practically the whole of the belligerents were Christian nations, Tho teachings and beliefs of a lifetime cannot be. upset by a state of affairs of a, few weeks' or years' duration. " Who is my neighbour," wo might well ask, and contemplation will bring forth the Master's time-honoured reply. Let us rather shew our greatness in tho victories of peace now that wo have maintained our supremacy at war. In a few weeks' time the French cruiser will be here, and " Ypres " will be able to excel himself in fatuous adulation of representatives of a nation which were our splendid Allies in tho last war, but who for hundreds of years liavo been Britain's sparring partners, and who, 120 years ago. were defeated by tho combined forces of England and Germany in just such an escapade, as Germany launched, and for which she was so justly punished. Aussie Digger.