PROFESSOR VON ZEDLITZ

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9139, 3 September 1915, Page 9

PROFESSOR VON ZEDLITZ

LETTER TO COLLEGE COUNCIL PLVrHS HIMSELF L-NRESERVEDI-v IX MEMBERS- HANDS. Professor vou Zedlitz has written to the Victoria College Council desiring it to deal with him in any manner it pleases, and placing himself unreeervedly iu its hands for that purpose. “The professor has not resigned said Mr Clement Watson, chairman of the College Council, to a “New Zealan Times 1 ' representative last night, bu he has put his case entirely in oui hands- X have taken no steps yet to call a special meeting, to consider his letter, and at present hardly think 1 will do so. unless members desire to deal with it immediately. X propose, however, to see some of them as soon as possible, and will then decide what to do-" , . , ilr Watson explained that six days notice has to be when calling n special meeting, and that the next ieguiar monthly meeting, which tails on the third Wednesday i.n the month, only twelve days oil’. It wa,s possible, he ' said, that members of the conned would agree to consider the_ letter at the regular meeting on the Xsth Inst. The professor's letter was sent to , College Registrar with a rcriuesc that copies be made and forwarded to tho members of the council individually, hollowing is the text of the communication “Dear Sir,—My appointment as Prolessor of Modern Languages at Victoria College took place in .1001. \Mien informing me of tho appointment, the Ago’nt-General for New Zealand, Mr Pember Reeves* having before mm full particulars of my origin and career* asked me whether I intended settling permanently in New Zealand. I assured him that that was my hope and intention, and lie in turn formally assured me that, if I proved myself a useful citizen of New Zealand, I should bo exposed to no' sort of discrimination on the ground of nationality. “This assurance was amply borne out by the treatment 1 received here until recently- But when Britain _ declared war upon Germany, X realised that so formidable a change of circumstances uiight make tho Council of Victoria College wish to dispense with my services. As the council ’has always treated me well. I felt it incumbent upon me to relieve them, if they wanted to get rid of me, of the embarrassment of taking the first step, and on August 4th, 1914, I handed my resignation to the then chairman of the council, Mr H. H. Ostler. “A few days later I accepted the assurance of the chairman that the council in no way desired or expected my resignation, and agreed to withdraw my letter of resignation. Tho subsequent conduct of tile couucil towards me shows conclusively that Mr Ostler's view was correct. Similarly, any fears that my teaching might be handicapped under present circumstances have been altogether dispelled. The students, while showing as admirable practical patriotism. treated me with an unspoken sympathy and helpfulness which I cannot find adequate words to describe. As regards' administrative work, I withdrew voluntarily from everything of the kind until invited by my colleagues, in kindly terms, to resume attendance at meetings of the Professorial Board- In short, every section of the Victoria College, the council. Professorial Board, graduates. students, and employees, have treated, me most generously ever since, and have recognised that 1 am entitled to my share of credit for that publicspirited and patriotic atmosphere which has helped to send over ifOU of our students to the front.

"Meanwhile, every kind of wild rumnur was busy with my name, and anonymous attacks became persistent. I was not. prepared to resign under pressure of that kind. I still tbink, if 1 may presume to say so, that the attitude of the council was a credit to the Dominion, and O'at in a few years’ time all parties will look upon it as a fine instance of British , justice and promise-keeping. No one has accused me of any wrongdoing, or of the slightest breach in my duties as a loyal New Zealander, and if X may quote the generous words attributed to Sir Robert Stout in referring to my case in the ‘Post’ of August 26th : 'The foundation of our civilisation rests on this, that the State, as such, must give praise to those who are wormy and punish those who do ill. If there is to be no distinction made between right and ovii ponduct, then civilisation has departed from "us.‘ The College Council has loyally carried out towards mo those high ideals of the Chief Justice, and I do not see that it was my business to frustrate its purpose by insisting on resignation. The council knew that the least hint that my retirement would be acceptable to it would have led to my immediate resignation, and it seems to mo that my duty went no further than that.

“Now the whole case is changed, and irresistible pressure is threatened against the council by the highest authority in the country. I therefore respectfully desire the council to deal with me in any manner they please, and place myself unreservedly iu their hands for that purpose.

“During the whole campaign against me I have kept silence. Now that the blow has fallen, and I can no longer be suspected of making humbugging protestations of loyalty in order to save mypelf. -it seems to me only fair fo the Council and to those others who have bravely spoken up tor me, in the teem of unpopularity, that I should lay before you the facts of my case. “I am not a German subject, and I owo no allegiance to Germany; to Britain i owe all that I am and hava. It is scarcely conceivable to me how any sane being could regard me as 'a possible spy or traitor to tho people among whom 1 have lived’ all my life, and from whom 1 have received unvaryingly just treatment until now. It is true, and I would scorn to deny it, that beinv of German descent, I have a (strong sentimental feeling for Germany; I know that she has rendered great service to human progress in the past, and believe she will do so in the future. There is no disloyalty in that; I feel the same for Prance, which is supposed to be the original home of my family. I have taken the oath of allegiance to Queen Victoria, and again to King Edward VII., and again to King George V., and would take it again now, if allowed; and the suggestion that I approve or extenuate acts of treachery and barbarism committed by Germans, or in the name of Germany, is an odious and utterly unfounded calumny. No tittle of evidence has been or could bo brought to this effect, and no self-respecting man would think me guilty of it, with the whole evidence of my life and teaching to the contrary. I utterly loath and detest such acts, by whom.never committed. and when Qeimans are responsible for them they are even more di tr.ssiug to me than to one who has no German blood in his veins.

“I may add that I cheerfully realise that a large part of the fe ling against me is due to ho-ourrble motives and igno'ance of the facts, lYhatr. er may happen to me now, I still owe more to British protection and justice than I can hope to remiy, and I tender to the members of the council my sincere thanks for their confidence in me, — “And remain, “Your obedient servant, “G. AV. VON ZEDLITZ.”