ENEMY SUBJECTS IN SOUTH AFRICA

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 159, 31 March 1919, Page 8

ENEMY SUBJECTS IN SOUTH AFRICA

THE REPATRIATION BILL "

SECOND READING DEBATE By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Eoc.. March- 30,. 11,5 p.m.) ; -Cape- Town, .March,2B. lit the Assembly tho Minister of the Interior, in moving the second -reading of the Enemy Eepatriatioi ■ and Denaturalisation Bill, said there were ' 2358 enemy subjects and seventeen naturalised persons under detention. There were 584 who voluntarily desired repatriation, mpiingV a total,.,vith their, families, of 1201; also 441 who had not acquired domicile, and about 150 who displayed such hostility as to be a danger to the peaoe of the Union. The Bill-did not'interfere with' enemy- subjects who had never been internen or had been released before a given date. The Minister emphasised the point that the Bill was the outcome of the eGrman atrocities, and declared;it would be a great injustice to. tiirn'all the Germans out of South Africa in ciew of tho encouragement given' in earlier yeaTs for settlement, by Germans, many -of whose descendants hod 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 Dutoh demand not to legislate against them. The question of the entry of German or other enemy subjects into Sinth -Africa could not be dealt vithl till peace was signed. . The Nationalists strongly opposed the Bill; 'on the grounds that it was unnecessary, and likely to cause trouble. Mr.' Merriman declared that the Bill .was "one of safety. The sole object of Germany during the next decade would 'be revenge, by inciting every part of the British and French Empires . end America to revolt. No opportunity should be given Germany for the hostile penetration of South Africa. - ■ The debate, was adjourned.—Renter.