TROUBLE FEARED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23040, 18 May 1938, Page 10

TROUBLE FEARED

VON LUCKNER'S VISIT v' h 1 FEELING IN AUSTRALIA i EVIDENCE OF HOSTILITY 1 ? , [fbom ottb own cokrkspondekt] SYDNEY. May 12 Count ron Luckner's visit to Sydney . in the Seeteufel may not be as placid -.,1' as his stay in New Zealand. Signs are;* -I not lacking that his arrival and sojourn here may be the cause of intensive' Communist and anti-Nazi demonstrations. In a last message by mail from Auckland, Count von Luckner told a friend in Sydney that he could be expected here on Monday if the winds were fav. ourable, but the weather over the Tasman this week has such that his arrival may be delayed. In his message, Count vou Luckner expressed delight at the prospect of visiting Australia. Two groups are preparing widely differing receptions for him. The German community is eager to fete their seahero. The Communist Party will try to stop "Hitler's emissary" landing. >vj: The German Vice-Consul, Dr. E. D. Hoofs, said: "We do not even know whether Count von Luckner is making for Sydney or Mel bourne. We have had no word from him." Mr. L. Donald, of the Communist Party, said: "We will do everything possible to prevent Luckner landing. We want him'officially & prohibited. The power used against ■ Kisch and Griffin should be used now." Already a demonstration has been held in the city against Count von Luckner's visit. In a busy shopping centre about 30 men and women paraded, bearing placards on their shoutders. These read: "Aussies Don't Want Fascism," "Stop Von Luckner," "Hitlerism is Mass Murder," and "Keep Luckner Out." Keeping in single file Vthe demonstrators mingled with shoppers and handed out leaflets bearing the words: "Hitler comes to Australia in the form of vou Luckner, who is a spy and an agent of Hitler fascism and an enemy of Australia's democratic principles. He admits he is a propagandist for Hitler Fascism." The police broke up the demonstration after there had been a disturbance following the tearing of a placard from one of the men. - At a meeting of the Royal Empire Society it was announced that tentatire arrangements had been made for Cornet von Luckner to give an address under the society's auspices. Replying to a protest by the Labour Party against von Luckner being permitted to broadcast, an official of the Australian Broadcasting Commission stated that no arrangements had been made Jor ron.. Luckner to broadcast from national stations, but said there would be no objection to him broadcasting provided he confined his talk to his travels and adventures and omitted any reference to politics, y YACHT NOT YET SIGHTED HOSTILITY OF COMMUNISTS (KeceiTed May 17, 7.1 p.m.) <■ SYDNEY, May if Count von Luckner's yacht was expected yesterday, but has not jet been sighted. Much public interest is being displayed in his visit, but the Communists are avowedly hostile.