ENEMY ALIENS.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 March 1918, Page 2

ENEMY ALIENS.

THE INTERNMENT QUESTION. (From Our Own Correspondent). Wellington, March 1, The statement made by the Minister for Justice to-day on the subject of tho internment of enemy aliens was interesting as revealing the fact that the New Zealand Government has been specially asked by the Imperial Government not to intern enemy aliens unless they are reservists or arc known to be danserous. Die enemy alien who conducts himself inoJlensively and observes the laws of the Dominion is to be left at large, even though his nationality be German or Austrian. Mr. Wilford suggested that the reason for this request was to be found in tho desire of the Imperial Government to adhere close by to the laws of nations. The Germans have treated enemy aliens, os? pecially tho Belgians, not merely aa prisoners of war, but as criminals and industrial slaves, and Britain does not wish to weaken the case that will bo presented at the Peace Conference by committing similar breaches of international law. The Minister's statement of the case is weighty, but there is a feeling here that the position is far from satisfactory. Enemy aliens are left at subject to a certain amount of pol Tee supervision, and they are exempted from military service. They are thus enabled to. carry on their ordinary avocations, without interrupt ions, and it is stated that in many they are gathering in prohts .businesses and land that otherwise would have gone to men now serving in the forces.