The Emden’s Visit

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 675, 29 May 1929, Page 11

The Emden’s Visit

SHOULD COURTESIES BE PAID? Opinions For and Against

A NUMBER of-letters dealing with the prospective visit of Ihe German cruiser Eraden to Auckland has been received by The Sun. Most of the writers hold the view expressed editorially that, diplomatic relations having been resumed with Germany, it is the duty of this community to extend the usual courtesies to the visitors.

LOOKING FOR A LEAD

Sir. The approaching: visit of a German ship of war to Auckland has supplied fire-eating - irreconcilabies with an excuse for staking some of the frothy indignation they have always on tap. Surely our representatives are not so utterly barren of tact that they are unable to devise a reception for the German visitors that will be marked neither by sloppy effusiveness nor frigid inhospitality. Our relations with the German Republic are normal: yet the Auckland city fathers are seeking a ‘’lead” from the Government as to how the visitors should be received. Looking for a “lead”! How typical of iNew Zealand! Why not cable No. 10 Downing Street for instructions? It would be quite in keeping with accepted custom.

OFFICIAL COURTESY ONLY

Sir,— Tour correspondent. E. StanboroughStephens, suggests that no courtesies should be extended to the Emden. There is grim irony in the thought of a warship Emden brooding dove-like on the waters of the Waitemata. Rivers of blood and mountains of dead prevent honest New Zealanders from receiving a German warship with smiles of peace. We all want peace, but we also need to keep a sense of proportion. 1 If a representative delegation of German women, journalists or merchants came to visit us, the proposition would be different, but in the name of truth let us put hypocrisy aside. The German visitors should be received with official courtesy but entertainmeVit and junketings in their honour should not be tolerated by our loyal citizens. ALICE J. GREVILLE.

FOREIGN VISITORS

Sir, — Your admirable leading article on the subject of the reception to the Emden is being forwarded by me to the editor of one of Berlin’s leading newspapers, whom I met last year. I am requesting him to republish it. We Esperantists believe with the League of Nations that disarmament and arbitration are needed more than the “big stick” methods of armed forces, but we do not hope to convince everyone to that idea. We believe that the minority which holds that armies and navies are absolutely necessary should be responsible for their upkeep. B. KING.

“NO POSSESSIONS TO INSPECT”

Sir, — Even if it is 10 years since the Great War ended, the visit of the Emden i’s an insult to our memories and sentiments. The tears of Anzac Day are hardly dry, and the flowers of the wreaths are just withering, and yet we are asking what kind of courtesies should be extended to the officers and men of this vessel. 'While the Germans are crying poverty and using any and all means to defeat the just claim that they should pay their war debts and reduce the reparation payments, they can afford to spend millions - on men-o’-war. In visiting these waters they have no possessions to inspect. They have no ships of commerce sailing in jeopardy. To extend the usual courtesies must be nothing but hypocrisy. Fancy our guns booming out a welcome salute. Fancy our Mayor extending at a civic function the usual felicitations. -Extend the usual courtesies when our national debt has been increased by millions, when our Prime Minister has now to increase taxation to meet interest charges, when we are burdened with pensions to widows and orphans and disabled soldiers. AVo owe a great debt to the dead and should respect the feelings of those they have left behind. That

is the great and* solemn consideration when we are confronted with the problem our citizens are now asked to consider. When a German traveller calls on business I listen to him and then he departs. If an unknown German came to my house I would open the door, but I certainly would not ask him in. Therefore, as they have chosen to visit our shores, let the captain of the German cruiser land. and if he so desires, call upon the Mayor, who would extend the ordinary courtesy. That’s all and quite sufficient. NEW ZEALANDER.

COURTESIES TO THE EMDEN

Sir, — The letter of E. SlanboroughStephcns in your issue of 27th inst. will strike a responsive chord in the hearts of many of those whose sons fell in the war. The visit of the German warship will awaken poignant memories of the tragic years of 1914-$, and it is difficult indeed to understand the announced intention of the Mayor of Wellington to extend a civic reception and hospitality to the commander and officers of the Emden. Does anyone suppose this will raise us in their esteem or in that of other nations? Will it promote peace and goodwill between Germany and ourselves? Past experience does not justify the hope. The fact is this ill-timed visit of the new Emden is wot acceptable to the majority of the loyal people of this Dominion. Why not inform the commander of the vessel of this, and incidentally preserve our own selfrespect.

D. PARSONS O LEART. Northcote, 29/5/29.

“THEY LOST THE WAR”

I read in last evenings Sun that Wellington had decided to show the same hospitality to the officers and crew of the Emden as would be shown to those of any other foreign Power. The Mayor appears to be decided upon the matter. Thank heaven we have at least one man, in a responsible position, who can decide what is due from him and to act on that belief. Surely Auckland is not going to be left behind. In the same column of your paper I read of a Maori protest. Personally, this is the last thing I would have expected from a Maori. I have always been led to believe that the Maafi was a fine race, both, from the physical and spiritual point of view. It certainly seems as though the Northern natives are lacking in the latter quality. They should remember that the Germans had as many wounds as they had, and one might be able to help the other heal those wounds. Standoffishness and lack of hospitality will never heal the wounds: but hospitality and friendliness will act as a cure. Mr. E. Starborough-Stephen, in his letter, sums up his idea as “Courtesies, Nil.” I, in turn, submit that the gathering of the returned soldiers, together with the public, who desire to do homage to our fallen heroes on Anzac Day, is sufficient to show that we wish to carry out their wishes; not to continue in our ways of hate, petty class and race spitefulness, but to do all that -which will abolish war. Let us remember that they fell to stop war. They gave their lives for us that we might make the world a better place, a place of world peace. They were told that their sacrifices would not be in vain, that the World War would be the last -war. Do not let us let them down. The debt which we owe to our kith and kin is to stop war. “Love one another.” Let us act at least like a Christian country, and if we feel we have received evil, let us return good for evil. A last point to remember is this—that we, in our selfishness; have forgotten that they, the Germans, also have lost the flower of their manhood —and money. They. also, have something else to bear, which we have not. They lost their Empire, and —the war. A YOUNG NEW ZEALANDER.