GERMAN JEALOUSY.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 1050, 18 November 1903, Page 3

GERMAN JEALOUSY.

By Telegraph. Press Association. Copyrigh*

Sydney, Nov. 17.

A manifesto issued in German by the Governor of New Guinea on tho language question has raised a bitter feeling in the British section of foreigners at the island, as the remarks in the document they consider are pointed at them. It appears that in June last a meeting was called of all residents by the Governor at Herbertshohe, and discussed tho language question, the Governor suggesting that in place of the pidgin English a New Blanche Bay dialect be adopted for all native officials and business purposes. This was negatived by all present, as this dialect was only known for about 60 miles of the New Britain coast. Several other proposals wero also Dogatived, amongst which was a suggestion that Malay, a very simple language, should be adopted. As this did not meet with His Excellency’s approval, it was proposed that as pidgin English wbb understood at all the islands oi tho eoiony it would bo best to keep to it, although if possible to try to introduce in futuro native German language. This called forth the Governor’s manifesto, deploring that Germans under the guidance of Anglicised Germans, could favor tho preservation of pidgin English. A correspondent writing on the subject says Eng-

lish has been spoken in these islands for more than thirty years, and in tho whole colony an insignificant fe,v natives understand a smattering of German. We British admire patriotism both in our uation and in others, and if foreigners are settled in British colonies they are always treated with the greatest courtesy and encouruged to stay. It is not so in these parts, especially under the administration of the presont Governor. Up to tho arrival of this Governor British and foreigners always lived in harmony and friendship with the Germans,