HOT TIME AT LECTURE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23529, 18 June 1938, Page 20

HOT TIME AT LECTURE

COUNT VON LUCKNER’S EXPERIENCE COMMUNIST AGITATORS REMOVED (From Our Own Correspondent) SYDNEY, June 9. . Count Felix von Luckner’s stay in Sydney has been marked by incidents which have resulted from demonstrations by Communist agitators, who have ruined the financial prospects of his public lectures. These agitators are a mere handful, but they have succeeded in besmirching the reputation Australians have for fairness and hospitality to a foreign visitor. Twice these demonstrators waited outside a broadcasting station for the man they have described as a “Nazi spy and political agent,” but. on each occasion, with the help of officials, von Luckner eluded them. Then a series of public lectures were announced. Two at Canberra were a “ frost.” One was cancelled because no one attended, and at the other only about 70 persons listened to the Count’s narrative of his adventures and career. The first Sydney lecture was set down for last Monday night, at the Town Hall. Only about 400 persons were present, and it soon became obvious that about 50 of these were there to stop the lecture. When the Count appeared, he was greeted by boos and snouts of “Fascist spy!” “Down with Hitler!” and “Murderer!” Von Luckner’s manager, Captain R. Chapman, appealed in vain for silence. The Count began to speak hesitantly, but his words were drowned by concerted hooting. One man leapt to his feet and shouted “Down with von Luckner, the Nazi spy!" and was removed by detectives. Smiling broadly, von Luckner stood by the microphone as his manager attempted to argue with the demonstrators. Calls came from all parts of the gallery. “What about the women and children in Spain? ’’ a woman shouted as von Luckner again began his lecture. He could be heard only with difficulty above the jeering and hooting. Plainclothes police took up positions among the groups of demonstrators, and each time a man rose to his feet to shout at von Luckner he was grasped by two officers and hurried out of the hall. Amid comparative quiet, Count von Luckner continued his lecture. His

statement, “I don’t know anything about politics,” was greeted with boos and a renewal of shouted interjections, and three men were removed. At this stage a man in the body of the haM stood up and, addressing Count von Luckner, said: “I hope you will not take any notice of this. Sir. These are young people who do not know any better.” In the disturbance which followed, several more interjectors were removed. Half an hour after the lecture began there was still disorder. More police were sent into the gallery, and three more men were removed, one struggling violently. A woman who attracted considerable attention by shrieking imprecations was also removed. For the first time von Luckner showed signs of anger. “Give me a fair hearing as a sailor,” he pleaded. “ If you must make a noise, wait till I have spoken. This is not what you call sporting.” A mhn at the back of the hall limped forward to the edge of the stage, and asked as a limbless soldier for a fair hearing for Count von Luckner. “ These people who are making this uproar are the first to ask for free speech always,” he said. “ I hope you do not think they represent the people of Australia.” Another banner inscribed “ Hitlerism is mass murder of women and children,” was quickly wrested from the grasp of two men who were ejected. The leading demonstrators were by that time outside the hall, and there were only isolated interjections. The count’s lecture was listened to quietly. As a result of this demonstration, Count von Luckner cahcelled arrangements for other lectures in Sydney and other capital cities. It was stated on his behalf that he would prefer not to give lectures with the possibility of receptions such as he had received, and the consequent loss of dignity.