GOODWILL VISIT

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 541, 26 May 1933, Page 3

GOODWILL VISIT

GERMAN pRUlSER EX-SOLDIEIRS STAND ALOOF. LUSITANIA ANNIVERSARY; Sydney, Saturday. The German cruiser Koln has come to Australian waters on a "good will" visit to the southern hemisphere. More prosaically, it may be explained, that every year a cruiser of the German Navy is sent on a long voyage to train cadets and midshipmen for a naval career, and the Koln is engaged in such a voyage now. The German warship has been received cordially enough at her ports of call, except that our returned soldiers have declined to take any active part in welcoming the vessel and her crew. Th'e Koln reached- Sydney at the end of last week, and the commander decided to emphasise the friendly nature of the visit by laying a wreath on the Cenotaph, in Martin Place. Accordingly, on Sunday morning last, a detachment from the cruiser, consisting of 180 men and officers, in full uniform, marched from the Quay to the Cenotaph, and there deposited the wreath — which, by the way, was bound with the old German Imperial colours of black, white and red, and stamped with the Imperial Cross. The Other Wreath. It so happened that this day (May 7) was the anniversary of the sinking of the Lusitania, "a tragedy," as the Sun reminded us, "eaused by the friands of the Koln's men, and costing 1300 lives, .mamly women and children." The men of the Mercantile Marble and their friends here had always

decided to commemorate the anniversary by laying a wreath on th'e . Cenotaph, and at 10.30 a.m., just an j hour and a half after the German • wreath had been deposited there, this r second offering was duly made. r The close coincidence of these two - events was certainly unfortunate and • embarrassing, and no doubt this fact , 1 had a great deal to do with the der ! cision of our Returned Soldiers' League l ' not to be represented at the Cenotaph • when the Koln's wreath was laid ! there, and not to participate in any ! attempt to welcome the German warship- or her crew. This decision on the part of the R.S.L. has naturally impressed a good many people who were at first inclined to extend "the right hand of fellowship" to the Germans, and it has given rise to a controversy in which a certain amount of strong feeling has been displayed on both sides. The Sydney Morning Herald, on the day before these ceremonials, had advised the people of Sydney to do all in their power to promote that international friendship of which the visit of the Koln seemed to be symbolical. On the other hand, the Sydney Sun, though disclaiming any unfriendly feeling toward our visitors, said frankly that though the people of Australia will do nothing aetively to disturb international good will, yet "the lesson of the Lusitania is not forgotten, and possibly never will be. • The forgiveness of the Australian citizens," itadded, "and that of the world at large, wil be largely conditioned by the sp'irit in which the new rulers of Germany fulfil their duty and their trust."

Feelings Too Strong. This attitude, and the course adopted by the R.S.L., evoked strong criticism from certain quarters, but the R.S.L. undoubtedly made out a strong case for itself. At Hobart and Adelaids the local branches of the R.S.L. had formally recognised the visit of th'e Koln and paid offiflicial calls on the captain. At Melbourne the R.S.L. took no part in the public functions," and made no announcement of its views. But the feelings of the R.S.L. in New South Wales seem to have been too strong to be repressed. It has been pointed out that the proposed wreath offering at the Cenotaph on Sunday followed too ciosely on the Anzac, Day ceremonies, when "the Cenotaph was banked with flowers by relatives of the soldiers whose lives had been sacrificed in the war with Germany." It was argued that "memories of the war are still too keen in the public mind," and the general opinion in the league seems to be that it is not yet time to modify its declared P'olicy "in regard to the country which it still blames for plunging the world into war." "Just as Militaristic To-day." There is also no doubt that the present state of affairs in Germany had much to do with the stand that the R.S.L. decided to take. It was contended at the league's meeting that racial and class distinction have been provoked and aggravated by the Hitler Government, and that Germany to-day is "just as militaristic as it was in the da.ys immediately preceding the Great War." As an appropriate comment on this view of th'e question one may quote the statement made by the president of the local branch of the Newcastle R.S.L. last week, that "It is diffieult now for returned soldiers to extend respect and friendship to any man who is a German." These words were used at a conference of church'es, councils and other public bodies of the Newcastle district at which a resolution was carried protesting through the British Ambassador in Germany, "against the ruthless barbarism and th'e outrages perp-etrated upon defenceless men, women and children by organised bands of Nazis, known to have the approval and support of the Geiynan Government." If the commander of the Koln reflects upon the terms of this resolution, he will probably understand the feelings which' his visit has aroused among a large and important section of the Australian people.