SOME PEACE CONDITIONS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 39, 9 November 1918, Page 3

SOME PEACE CONDITIONS

Sir,—Now that peace terms and indemnities are being generally discussed, I wish to suggest that individuals receive first consideration, and would propose that for every civilian or sailor murdered by the Germans, either by torpedoing, air bombing, or butchel'y on. sea or land, they should be compelled to pay a minimum amount of X'3OW); for every l'reuch or Belgian woman or girl violated, a sum of i! 3000; for everjr prisoner of war not returned alive and well, a Bum of ,£5000; for every wounded soldier unskilfully treated, because this would be through wilful nedect; for every soldier or naval man killed a sum of £5000, because in very many instances these deaths have been caused by low-down trickery, against the rules of warfare. After the individuals, by all means make them pay to the last farthing for the damage done.' They brought on the war for their own pleasure, make them pay for it. Now to como nearer home. New Zealand is only a small country, and I say most emphatically there is no room for one German here. Immediately after peace is declared, all their naturalisation papers should be cancelled, and the subjects allowed six months in which to settle their affairs, and leave the country. Those now interned should never he let loose on the country again, and no German or Austrian should be allowed to enter New Zealand for the next fifty years. I hope our National Government will show some backbone in this matter. Their enemy policy has been lamentably weak all through the war. Had they been firm from the beginning, and interned all enemy subjects, they would have had the public with them from the North Gape to Stewart Island, but their slackness has disgusted many of their friends, and has pleased no one except the enemy. Why are Germans retained in good positions? Are there no British competent to fill them? I do not think we need look much further to account for the rpsult of the several by-elections. Our Sinister of Defence ,(Sir James Allen) has hud a most difficult and thankless task, and deserves tho very greatest credit for the able way iji which ho has carried it through, except for this enemy question. Sir James Allen said, in regard to enemy subjects, he was carrying out instructions received from the Imperial authorities. Surely the said authorities would not have reprimanded him for taking all reasonable precautions. The National Government have lost many supporters. This monetary indemnity that I propose for individuals is in no way to bo regarded as an offset against the crimes perpetrated by the Germans. If the Allies do their duty, and aro just, the Kaiser, and very many of his subordinates, will be tried for murder, and if' found guilty, hanged, irrespective of rank or position.- The remaining Germans should be shown that war is no excuse for the indiscriminate murder of civilians—l am, etc., ■ JUSTICE.