GERMAN PRISONERS

Taranaki Daily News, 30 August 1919, Page 12

GERMAN PRISONERS

NOW MILITARY INTERNEES.

The German prisoners' held in New Zealand are still final decision of them a glight 'They have ceased to t'e prisoners of war and have become, mjiitary internees. But they must remain in the detention camps peace proclamation is issued and the provisions of the Peace Treaty become-fully effective.

Some of the prisoners came originally from Samoa, where they were ed in official at the time of the o vß P*tion. The disposal of these with their families, may prove to P e ft matter of some difficulty. Sey l-r *' of the families remain in Samp*, others are in New Zealand. The Administration will not be willing to receive them back, but the authorities may decide that civilian internees should be given an opportunity to settle up their affairs. The Peace Treaty provides that in the case of Samoa and other territories taken from Germany, property formerly owned by Germans shall pass into the hands of the new Governments, Germany becoming liable to pay compensation to the dispossessed owners. It appears that under this provision, the Administration to he set up in Samoa under the mandate will remain in possession of the German plantations. The former German owners, some of whom' an; now held in internment in New Zealand, will have to go to Berlin for the compensation to which they may he entitled. The clauses of the Peace Treaty dealing with this point have not been published fully in New Zealand. They are stated to be detailed and explicit. The prisoners include a few Germans sent to New Zealand from Fiji during the war. Tlie Fijian Administration thought it advisable to deport all, German residents, naturalised or otherwise, and some of them were brought to this country. Their disposal remains to be settled.

Another group of enemy internees are o*hose who wish to, remain in New Zealand. These men, speaking generally, were domiciled in this country when the war began. They were 'interned either because they were of military age or' because'they were considered to have shown anti-British leanings. Some of them have property and businesses in th.B country and are married to Netf Zealand womeh.