FOR GERMANY

Southland Times, Issue 21331, 27 February 1931, Page 3

FOR GERMANY

BRITISH CAPTAIN’S GIFT.

REMARKABLE CLAUSE IN WILL. London, February 13. A unique windfall for Germany has resulted from the will of Mr Otway Robinson, a bachelor master mariner, of Whitstable. The story was revealed when the will came before the Chancery Division of the High Court for interpretation, on summons. The report of The Times states that the plaintiff was Arthur Robert Besant, the executor, and the defendants were the German Government, General J. Smuts, Alfred Harvey, a beneficiary, Hamilton Dancey, the testator’s halfbrother, and the Attorney-General. The will, after devising legacies to Harvey and others from an estate of £30,000 proceeded: “Whereas victorious and wealthy England is well able to provide for those disabled in the Great War, I bequeath the remainder of my property as a small gift to the German Government for the benefit of disabled soldiers, because, owing to the state of the country, these unfortunate men, the majority of whom were • conscripts under the rigorous system of Prussian militarism, can receive only meagre pensions and small help.” If this were held void the testator bequeathed to General Smuts £lOOO as a personal gift, the remainder to be used for the benefit of Boers disabled in the South African war in order to dispel ill-feeling between Boers and Britons. Mr Justice Maugham held that it was not contrary to public policy to benefit those who had ceased to be enemies. Such a fund was more likely to tend towards future peace than to encourage bellicose ideas. The fund would be handed over through the proper officer to the German Government.