THE ALIEN REFUGEES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24336, 28 June 1940, Page 5

THE ALIEN REFUGEES

TO THE EDITO9 becomes rather intolerant of the foolish attitude adopted by a ’ number of New Zealanders towards the war, and their lack of confidence in our grekt Empire. Please let me say why I think and know that this evii thing called Nazi will soon be erased from God's earth. Hitler came into power by treachery; he could not have advanced beyond Germany without his gangsters and treachery. Holland, Belgium, and France have been riddled with Nazi borer, and I often wonder if 1 per cent, of our people realises this fact. If Hitler can reach our shores, then we would surely know that spiritual life did not exist and we might as well go to the jungle. But

spiritual life does exist, and it looks to be a certainty that we must win this war. I have lost count of the Governments of France during the past five years, and I recollect that at the time when her generals should have been of service, France was throwing them overboard. Now we have Marshal Petain handing this great nation over to the Nazis. This tottery old man—B4 years of age—had no right to have any say in the affairs of a nation. His Government represents no one, and it is to be hoped that the French people denounce this Government and do not accept the shameful “ Hitler 24 points." Petain is a great friend of Spain’s Franco; Franco is a great friend of Mussolini; and it is significant that Petain made this dishonourable peace soon after “ Stab-in-the-back " Mussolini bravely entered the war.' The unfortunate French people have suffered over years through unscrupu- i lous politicians, and the German break- 1 through of only a few weeks ago was i possible ■ only by treachery within j France itself. It is well that Great Britain will now have the final say with Germany and Italy. The British Navy will again prove to | the .. world that to it free people owe 1 everything. The men in our ships , know the sea. and the British Empire { is safe in their hands. We must do j our part and there should be no halfr way business about it. We are either with the British Empire or we are against the British Empire. The word for people who mutter wild rumours misfit also be “ Nazi.” No crocodile fears will convince me that foreigners in our midst are not against us. Heaven knows what information is passing from the United Kingdom to Germany, via New Zealand and the East! I am quite sure that the Government does appreciate the position and will not be ‘long in putting these people where we know they will be away from temptation. We are training a large Air Force in New Zealand, and we must remember that the Nazi technique is to strike quickly. Let us get on with the job and have no regrets. —I am, etc., A. McR. D.unedin, June 26. TO THE EDITOR s ; ' Sir, —With reference to the letter of “ Before Too Late ” in your issue of June 25, permit me to . say that we are all aware of the danger, of the Fifth Column. It is a great pity that mlr phlegmatic British statesmen of the past were not alive to the danger of the Nazi spy system—but with the. typical British superiority complex they carried on complacently, until Herr Hitler demonstrated, in a remarkably short space-of time, .that;.his socalled Crazy, ambitions could be fulfilled. We have under-rated his .ability in the past and labelled him an erratic maniac, but actions speak' louder than words! To me it seems- a sorrowful thing that a brilliant;.brain -should .be so distorted by hatred and’,desire fpf. revenge. Directed in the right channels Adolph Hitler could, have been acclaimed the saviour of ' the German people—instead of their eventual destroyer. I have met mahv of. these refugee doctors and other professional aliens. Certainly their actions must be supervised, butthey have; in rhost cases, very, much more reason to hate Hitlerism than we ourselves. 1 : Is it kind, humane or Christian-like to make their lives more unhappy? I have met trained and registered masseurs, dietitians, doctors and other professional refugees all of good families and of remarkable intelligencemost intellects are sharpened by trial and tribulation! God will not help us in this terrific struggle if we do not cleanse cur hearts of intolerance and .hatred. Let us keen our sense of balance and not force these poor unfortunate people into a camp where the Government will be forced to keep them. The logical thing to do is to enable them to earn their own living in their own particular line and to become helpful and self-supporting members of the community. I may state that I am the wife of a medical officer now in camp in England. I am at present' in the Hospital, and have two children for whose future welfare I am solely responsible, and when I am well again —have to find a home for them and myself. My husband left a large practice to help his fellow-men and this war has completely altered the course of my life. So that I am not a prejudiced writer and I believe in justice for all.—l am, etc. r Spero Meliora. Dunedin, June 25. TO THE EDITOR Sir,—Events during the past few weeks show us the vicious way in which the enemy works, and I think that it is time all enemy aliens in New Zealand were , interned. We have noticed that in the countries which Germany has invaded it has always been the people in high- places who have sold their country—never the working man. It is also interesting to note that the people here in Dunedin who are defending the so-called German refugees are people of some social standing and people in authority. This Is as these Germans want it. so that they may have protection from internment and so enable them to carry on their propaganda campaign a little longer I doubt that these misguided people who spend so much of their time defending Germans ihave sons fighting for our country. - Thank heaven there is one section of the community that will not listen to German propaganda and that is immune fx-om bribery, and that is the mothers of sons who are fighting for our freedom. It is these women who are suffering mental torture to-day that few men understand. It is a peculiar fact that so many New Zealanders get the idea that, because a man is a foreigner, his knowledge is superior to our own. and crowds are flocking to foreign doctors, dentists, etc. We can do without this German culture. We have reason to be proud of our own doctors, who have always done their job well and i I know that the older doctors in tins city are only too willing to shoulder the extra burden put on them by the enlistment of some of the younger members of the profession and do not require the assistance of these Germans. Men like Dr Fitzgerald are to be commended for the stand they have taken. I understand that some German doctors have offered to take the practices of our soldier doctors on trust until the end of the war. I hope we have learnt not to trust Germans, If these people are so anxious to help this country, let them work on farms and help to increase food production and so be of some use and not stay in the cities trying to beat our soldiers for their jobs. If they are genuine ref!** ses they will be glad enough to do anything in return for the hospitality of our country, and monetary remuneration would be a very secondary considex’ation.—T am. etc.. Working Man. Dunedin. June 26.