SOUTH AFRICA'S ENEMY ALIENS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXVI, Issue 17535, 31 March 1919, Page 5

SOUTH AFRICA'S ENEMY ALIENS.

A WISE MEASURE.

(Received March 30, 11.30 p.m.) CAPETOWN, March 2S.

In the--Assembly, the Minister for the Interior, In moving the second reading of the Enemy Repatriation and Denaturalization Bill, said there were 2,351 enemy subjects and li naturalized persons under detention. There were 554 who voluntarily desired repatriation, making a totai! with their families of 1,204, also 44* who had not acquired domiciles and about 150 who displayed such hostility as to be a danger to the peace of the Union. The Bill did not interfere with enemy subjects who were never interned or had been released before a given date. Tho Minister emphasised the point that the Bill was the outcome of German atrocities and declared it would be a great injustice to turn all Germans out of South Africa in view of tho encouragement given in earlier yeans for settlement by Germans, many of whose descendents had given their lives, side by side with the Allies. The Government declined to give way to English clamour for all Germans to be repatriated and equally opposed the Dutch demand not to legislate against them. The question of the entry of German or other enemy subjects into South Africa could not be dealt with till Peace was signed. *

The Nationalists strongly opposed the BiU on the ground that it was unnecessary and' likely to cause trouble.

Sir J. X. Merriman declared that the Bill was one of safety. The sole object of Germany during the next decade' would be revenge by exciting every part of the British and French Empires and America to revolt. No opportunity should be given Germany for hostile penetration in South Africa.

The debate was adjourned