GERMAN CITIZENS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23000, 30 March 1938, Page 6

GERMAN CITIZENS

POSITION IN AMERICA WITHDRAWAL FROM CLUBS INSTRUCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT The reactions in the United States to tlio recent happenings in Austria and Germany were interestingly discussed yesterday by Mrs. G. L. Woolstone, of New York, who arrived at Auckland yesterday by the Wanganella en routo for San Francisco next week.

"One effect of Germany's far-reach-ing policy," she said, "was shown by the fact that early in February advice was received by the German Embassy in New York forbidding German citizens in the United States to form Nazi organisations. In fact a move is being made to prevent German citizens from belonging to any society or organisation. The idea is, primarily, to keep German citizens from taking part in American politics," said Mrs. Woolstono. National Organisations

The German Government had also forbidden Gorman citizens to belong to the Anierika-Deutscho Volksbund or to any possible substitute organisations of that kind, continued Mrs. "Woolstone. This was the German-American Nazi organisation, which' had its headquarters at New York. Tho Prospective Citizens' League, an organisation lor German citizens who had taken out their first citizenship papers in the United States, came also under tho ban and all who had joined were ordered to withdraw from the societies immediately, as were those • members of the Amerika-Deutsche \olksbund. fliis order applied to nearly 500,000 German citizens in. the United States. Members Resign

"Many German members of our women's organisations have resigned, although their interest and help has always been a source of gratification to us." said Mrs. Woolstonc. "Many were among our valued helpers in social welfare work, and their interest so practical that the question of nationality was never thought of by either German or American members." "In spito of the recent happenings in Europe, she said, "this is no time to weaken any work in tho interests ot peace. It is, in fact, a time for renewed effort and proves only that we havo been too apathetic in stressing the international aspect of peace work. the peace movement is one that should havo grown internationally so strong that war would have been impossible. In her opinion the interests of peace could best be furthered by close cooperation between Britain and the United States. , Mrs. Wool stone is a member ot several women's organisations in the United States including tho Peace Movement.