SOUTH AFRICA.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 March 1919, Page 5

SOUTH AFRICA.

TAKING NO RISKS. REPATRIATING THE GEtMfANft Received March 30, 11.5 p.m. Capetown, March 28. In the Assembly the Minister for th« Interior, in moving the second reading o£ tlie Enemy Repatriation and Deliaturalisation Bill, said there were 2309 enemy subjects and seventeen naturalised persons under detention. There were 584 who voluntarily desired repatriation, making a total with their families of 1204, also 444 who had not acquired domicile, and about ISO who displayed such hostility as would be a danger to the peace of the Union. The Bill did not interfere with enemy subjects who were never interned or had been released 'before a given date. The Minister emphasised the point that the Bill was the outcome of the German atrocities, and declared it would fce a great injustice to turn all German* CKjt of South Africa in view of the enamr* agement given in earlier years for aft' tlement by Germans, many of whfae descendants lhad given their lives Ma !by side with the Allies. The Govern' mw.t declined to give way to the Eng« lish clamor "for all Germans to be repatriated, and equally opposed the Dutch demand not to legislate against them. ' The question of th« entry of German or other enemy subjects into South Africa could not be dealt with till peace was aigned. The Nationalists strongly opposed the Bill on the grounds that it was unnecessary and likely to cause trouble. Mr Merriman declared the Bill 088 j>f safety. The sole object of Germany, during the next decade would ho re* venge by inciting every part of the Bri* tfch and French Empires and Amtries) to revolt. No opportunity should W given Germany for hostile penetratiotf in South Africa. The debate was adjourned.—Reutaf.; i