GIRMAN CRIMINALS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2812, 5 February 1908, Page 27

GIRMAN CRIMINALS.

PROPOSED TRANSPORTATION. BERLIN, January 31. The Imperial party in the Reichstag requests the Governmer.it to modify the Penal Code in order to provide for the transportation to German colonies in the Pacific of long-sentenced criminals who , ate physically and mentally .adapted to removal. MELBOURNE, February 2. Mr Deakin, in an interview regarding the German convict proposal, 6aid : " One does not care to comment on a proposal made to a foreign Parliament, because comment at this stage might be an intrusion. All I will say is that the German "• tßeiehetag ie certain to consider the (influence upon its own tropic possessions of the influx of snch & class of settlers. • We could not witness such a departure ■without regret for their settlements in tfeht! Pacific and -without some apprehension for our own settlements." SYDNEY, February 2. Mr Wade (the State Premier) is of ; opinion that some protest should be made - against the proposal of the Imperial party •in Germany to 6end convicts to their ' Pacific possessions. February 3. The German Consul-gien«ral Ivere does aiot attach amy importance to the eugges- ' *ion to establish a penal settlement in the German colonies. He say 6 that the - party which favours, it ds a small one, and itha-t clause 5 of tihe Reciprocity Agree- - ment between Germany and England, made in 1886, concerning the freedom of trade between German and British possessions, says that both Governments engage not to establish any penal settlement in or to transport convicts to the Western Pacific.