THE “SEA DEVIL”

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 448, 2 June 1937, Page 6

THE “SEA DEVIL”

SHOULD BE KEPT OUT Australia’s Reaction Sydney, May 20. Som e weeks ago news reached Australia that Count Felix von Luckner, the German sell rover who made the name of .the See Adler famous during the war, if coming to Australia; and it was further reported that one. of his objects is “the propagation of Fascist ideas.” Th e Sydhey Labour Council made a strong protest against the admission of any avowed Soviet emissary, and it reminded the general public and the Federal Government of the desperate efforts made by the Commonwealth authorities to prevent Herr Elgin Kisch from carrying out hit mission of proselytising Australia on behalf of the League against War and other' Communist organisations. Various other public bodies took up the same line, and eventually their protests were submitted in an official way to the Minister of the Interior. Mr. Paterson naturally ‘took time to consider.” -end last week he delivered judgment. He has decided that “no action will be taken by the Federal Government to prevent the entry into Australia of Counit von Luckner.” Mrs. Freer, Kisch and Griffin. Naturally those who detest Fascist principles of government and resent their introduction here are incensed at Mr. Paterson’s decision. They have reminded him thlat in the cases of Mrs. Freer, Herr Kisch and the New Zealander Griffin th e authorities were determined' to prevent th e entry of strangers who by speech or action might interfere seriously witji our established order. They cannot understand why Mr. Paterson should be so scrupulous' now.

To this the Minister has replied) that in previous cases, when the landing of undesirable people has been prevented, or their (activities have been choked, “it wac because of definite information from an official source overseas, and not on heresay.” The Minister added, however, that this distinguished! visitor “will be cautioned before landing against making any statement or uting propaganda that might be to the 'detriment of law and order in Australia." Even if such warnings go unheeded, “sufficient power exists in both Commonwealth and State laws to enable proper action to be tlaken against any person engaged in subversive propaganda.” and he givee further an assurance that, if th e necessity should arise such repressive action will undoubtedly be taken. Observe First, Condemn Later. It cannot h e said thht the anti- Fascists here—and this includes a great many people outside the Labour movementI—are 1 —are satisfied with Mr. Paterson’s assurances on these points. They would prefer to see anyone who comes here with the avowed object of starting any sort of politi. dal propaganda excluded altogether. But several of dur newspapers hold that we ought not to shut oirt any man on account of his reported opinions, and that we ought to want to see how von Luckner may conduct himself here before we condemn and pttiHSh him.

There are in the minds of some people special reasons for allowing von Luckner to enter Australia, and even for giving him a cordial welcome. This view of the case is expressed with due emphasis in a letter which appeared recently in the “Sydney Morning Herald.” The writer holds that “no Australian with a. grain of sportsmanship in him will refuse .a welcome to Germany’s greatest sportsman—a great kindhearted’ giant who broke through the British blockade and sank about 90 allied! ships."

This letter may help to remind us thlat in the interval since the war von Luckner has’ become almost a legendary hero, and that the myths which have gathered round his name are Hot to be accepted'too liberally.