HELIGOLAND'S CRY

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14769, 7 October 1921, Page 3

HELIGOLAND'S CRY

REVOLT AGAINST GERMAN TAXATION. WAR OF INDEPENDENCES THREATENED. Something like a Home, Rule movement has developed in Heligoland, according to Ihe Berlin correspondent of the London Morning Post. During the war the island, which is probably Ihc most popular seaside resort in Europe east of Brighton, was transformed into a fortress and suffered heavy economic, loss. Peace lias brought with it the invasion of workmen from (lie mainland employed to destroy the fortifications of the island, who have created an outlandcr problem in Heligoland and subjection to new imperial taxes which Hie islanders contend they cannot and ought not lo pay. The. Old Hcligoianders have accordingly taken up the cudgels against the new order of things, and are demanding exemption from Imperial taxation and autonomy for the island.

The Prussian Government has gone so far as to agree lo cancel its own share of one-third of direct contributions from the island, and special concessions have been made to Old Holigolanders in regard lo representation on local government councils on the island. This is not enough for the Old Heligoianders, who have issued a public memorandum to the German press in which they, complain that bureaucratic obstinacy lias silenced their protests in Berlin.

What Heligoland asks, Hie memorandum says, is her independence and self-government and freedom in the exploitation of her economic possibilities. The German and Prussian Governments, which incessantly denounce the Treaty of Versailles, make use of the Treaty to deprive Heligoland of the, riplils which are by no means privileges of special luxury, but are indispensable conditions of existence of Hie islanders. The memorandum further declares that the Heligoianders arc wearied of waiting truitlessly in the ante-rooms of Fieri in Ministries where nc one understands their ease, and warns Hie Government that the errors committed in Alsace-Lorraine, Posnania, Schleswig, and Upper Silesia have taught it nothing. "In Heligoland Hie clock is striking J2,” the memorandum concludes, “and vve have all Hie Heligoianders behind us- Only comprehension at the last moment can prevent an open serious conflict.”