ENEMY ALIENS.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 November 1917, Page 7

ENEMY ALIENS.

AUSTRALIANS DEMAND INTERN. MENT. LORD MAYOR'S OBJECTION/ Sydney, Oct. 30.

The Anti-German League meeting in the Sydney Town Hall yesterday afternoon was marked by very enthusiastic scenes, and the large number of women present evidenced the interest aroused by German activities in our midst.

The Lord Mayor presided. "That this meeting of citizens of Sydney respectfully urges the Federal Government to exercise to the utmost nil its powers to protect life and property on land and sea from attack by enemies and disloyalists; and this meeting pledges itself to support the Government in a. vigorous policy iu this matter," was the first resolution moved by Sir Joseph Carruthers. IMMEDIATE ACTION DEMANDED.

In a vigorous speech, punctuated with considerable applause, Sir Joseph stressed the. importance of dealing with a "serious evil." "Is the position not grave?" he asked, "with ships being sunk off our shores, and tires breaking out on our steamers. The enemy has been at work in our midst, sacrificing lives and property. We intend to ask the Federal Government to exercise its power to the utmost, and in such a move the Commonwealth authorities will have behind thorn every loyal man and woman in Australia. (Applause). When this war began there were 2000 unnaturalised and 4000 naturalised Germans in New' South Wales. In the first year of the war the Government protected ■OOO full-blooded Germans in New South Wales by naturalisation. (Cries of shame!) And even last year there were 28 full-blooded Germans naturalised. How can you naturalise the enemy? (Cries of Shame! and 'lt's dreadful/) The law forbids us to trade with the enemy, and the lav forbids the Government to deal with the enemy. (Prolonged applause). I have no time for the German. While he is occupying the position of an enemy I won't take the hand of a German and ask him into the bosom of my family. That is what we do when we naturalise him. During 1914 there were 1327 aliens naturalised in-New South Wales, and half of them were Germans. It was no accident. It never happened before. .lust think of it: half the total naturalisations were of our own enemy. We positioned these men, so that we could not treat them as enemies. They have the same rights as us. (Cries of 'Shame!') Thore was not a single Bulgarian naturalised in Australia from 1783 to 1914; then, for the first time, in that year, we had eight Bulgarians naturalised. During the last nine years there were 2000 Germans naturalised in New South Wales. We have to fight the German army in the field; we know how they fight. They now have a second army fighting here—a secret army doing as great a work for Germany as the live millions in the field."

Sir Joseph went on to refer to the dread influence of the secret arm of the Teuton—how Russia had been brought low thereby, and how the nnfarious influence had touched Greece. Even in bleeding France, fighting the fight of history— (applause)—a Frenchman had received German money, wherewith to bribe the French Press to betray the people. In America was the same story. Here in Australia we had never yet handled a German spy as his deserts merited—shot. (Applause). There were thousands of them in Australia, and they were not to-be found in the internment camps. (Tumultuous applause). Thev were at large. Were the correct steps being taken by the public aa well a . sthe Government? (Voices: ''No.") They had to distinguish betweea the loyal German and the othor.

Voices: There's no such thing as a loyal German. Put them all in. Sir Joseph Carruthers replied that there was no necessity to trust a single German. (Loud applause). IN GOVERNMENT SERVICE

There were Germans occupying public positions in New South Wales to-day. (Cries of "Shame!") He was" not going to say in which Government Bervice, hut the fact remained that we were .playing with fire, and while doing that we could not expect to escape scorching. We had done less to protect ourselves against foreigners than any part of the British Empire. (Applause). "I fear more than the German himself," added the speaker. "It is the German gold, «nd the German tools that are bought with German gold." i The motion, which was seconded by Mr. W. T. Willington (president of the Ohamber of Manufacturers), was carried enthusiastically. Mr. C. W. Oakea, M.L.A., moved that "(a) All efforts should be made to strengthen the hands of the authorities in the task' of combating the activities of enemy agents in our midst; and (b) an active campaign should be undertaken by all loyal citizens to destroy all opportunities for Germans and other enemies, or their tools or sympathisers, in Australia, to injure British or Allied interest* during the war.' Seconded by Aid. B. S, Saiutelle, the motion was carried, and also an amendment, moved by Aid. Ogilvie, of Manly, supported by Aid. Reid, of Manly, adding the words, "In the opinion of this meeting all enemy aliens should bo interned." Beforo the motion and amendment were submitted, the Lord Mayor voiced his opposition. He said, if carried, they would have a far-reaching effect on the Federal Government, and commented that anything in the nature of precipitation or extravagance might defeat its own objects. Voices: No.

Aid. Meagher, continuing, said that, whilst he was out to win the war, as his actions had shown, he wished to point out that there were people married to Australian wives who had given no indication of disloyalty. ('Uproar, and cries of ''lntern them all.").

Displaying some heat, the Lord Mayor asserted that he would emphasise hin opinion, and a million would not prewiit him. Australian children of Ger-man-Australians had consecrated their livi'fl, and made the supreme sacrifice, What greater sacrifice could bo made? On the motion and amendment being submitted, they were carried with great enthusiasm, the result being greeted by the Lord Mayor with:."l hope it meets with the success you anticipate."