BRIDES OF U.S. SOLDIERS ASK FOR CHANCE

Chronicle (Levin), 22 June 1946, Page 7

BRIDES OF U.S. SOLDIERS ASK FOR CHANCE

—Press Association

APPEAL SENT TO PRESIDENT TRUMAN

Bv Telearavh-

\\ BliLliN tiTON, June 21. War neurosis, disilluslonment, inability to fmd the right jobs, or to work because of war injury, are believed by some New Zealaud- wives of former Atnerican servicemen to be the reason why many husbands are seeking UivorCes.- At a meeting of wives so placed, lield under the auspiees of the New Zealand Eagle Club in "Wellington last night, the opinion was expressed tliat if only wives could talk with their husbands- agaiu and show them their children, whoni they liad never seen, they would be able to overcome this position. - \ The girls feel that they are helpless, that they cannot do anything to see that they are given passages to the Cnited iStates, nor is there anyone to whom they can tuni for help. All but oue of those at the meeting had a child apiece. Some would be ready to sail on the Monterey at the end of the month if permission could. be obtained. They have all their papers in order, plus the 200 dollars each neccssary to support theniselves and their children 011 arrival | in America. The obstacle tliat has prevented their being able to leave before was the failure of husbands to send the necessary transportation request, or, if tliat was held by the wives, not sending the necessary request for a baby's . passport for entry into the Dnited States. In desperation, tlie girls wlio met last night are sending the following cable to Pi'esident Trunian,'tlie cost of which is generously to be met by the Xew Zealand Eagle Club: "Number wives and children desperately need transpOrt defend iiending divorces. Beg only chance save marriages. Please provide passages, waiving husbands ' requests and babies7 jiassports. Please nssist. " Signecl "N.Z. Eagles. " The wives are also planning to send a petitioii to President Truman by mail and to forward a copy of. it to the Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, and to the American Legation in Wellington. The petition is as follows: — 1. That husbands be forced to main iairi wives and children at the rate of war allotnients. 2. That wives wlio are facing divorce action and who Iiave 200 dollars and ire eapable of self-support be allowed i'ree 1 ransportion to the United States •0 defend divorces. .3. If a wife cannot travcl to the Cnited States, and if a divorce is for other than proven and just grouruls, lliat husbands be forcod to rctain "a lawyer 011 the wife's bchalf in the Cnited States. y, • 4. That wives who are forced to applv for divorce in New Zealand beause of tlicir husband's desertion or other just reason should have costs of 'he divorce paid by the husband. 5. That ITiited States Courts sliould force husbands to pav maintenance as ;illowed by the New Zealand Court. "Tf she can do it, why cannot we?" said Mrs. Frank Sviatko, wlio called j ihe meeting and who is one of the : wives all'ected, refeiTiqg;. .tq ihe faet J that a British wiPe and lier ti-nionths-i old child had rccently arrived in New ! York to contcst her iiusband's divorce suit. The British wife said she had the British Married Women 's Society behind her. It was stated at the meeting that there were many other YVellington wives beside those who attended wlio were in similar positions, and one wife said that one Wellington' lawyer alone was dealing with 25 divoree cases of Xew Zealand wives and American husbands. Mrs. Sviatko said her husband's case was probably typical of others and that, being psycho-iicnrotic. following war service, he was not eapable of making the necessary decisions. He was a war veteran before he had reached his twenty-second birthdav. He was in the Guadalcanal, Tara wa, Saipan and Tinian camjiaigns with the Marine Corps and was wounded in the lastnamed. He was in hospital for six montlis in the ITiited States and now was discharged 011 a pension, all his plans for a pernianent career in the ! corps gone. j The wives are to meet next Wednes- { dav, this time in the Gaiety Club lounge, wlien it is lioped a roply will have been received from President Truman.