PREMIER’S APOLOGY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 July 1939, Page 9

PREMIER’S APOLOGY

NOTE TO GERMAN MINISTER SPEECH MADE BY MAYOR. REFERENCES TO HERR HITLER. The Prime Minister or South Africa. General Hertzog. has apologised to the German Minister Plenipotentiary and protested to the Mayor of Port Elizabeth. Mr James McLean, about references to Herr Hitler in an address of welcome by Mr McLean to Lord Mailey. Deputy-Speaker of the House of Lords, and Mrs Marley when they visited Port Elizabeth in its show week recently, states the “Johannesburg Star" of April 10. PREMIER’S LETTER. Last week the Mayor received a letter over the signature of General Hertzog addressed from the Department of External Affairs, Cape Town. It was as follows: — “Sir, the German Minister Plenipotentiary has approached me in connection with the terms of the speech delivered by you on the 22nd inst in the Feather Market Hall in your town, copy of the relative passages of which I enclose. He also sent me copies of letters exchanged between the Consul, Mr Wedeman, and you. “I informed the German Minister that I very much regretted that you had expressed yourself in such an offensive manner about the head of the German State. May I appeal to you as a citizen of the Union most earnestly to consider whether it would not be possible for you in the public interest to express your feelings in future in a form less liable to give offence?” MAYOR’S REPLY. The following is the Mayor’s reply :o the Prime Minister’s letter:— “Sir, your letter of the 31st ultimo received and contents noted. I admit that the language I used was somewhat strong, but when I recall the brutal murder of Dollfuss, the cruel imprisonment of Schuschnigg and the way Dr Benes was hounded out of his country, I wonder whether you, sir, as head of a State protected by the British Navy, are not being more complacent than you ought to be with the representative of a regime which apparently delights in treating Prime Ministers in this fashion. “I, respect your appeal, sir, and trust .that neither you nor I will have cause in future to express our righteous indignation at such actions in the only to take notice of.”

MAYOR’S STATEMENTS. The statements against which the German Consul and the Prime Minister protested were made on the occasion of a reception to Lord and Lady Marley in the Feather Market Hall, Port Elizabeth, on March 22, during their visit to South Africa to appeal for funds for refugees from Central Europe. “Whatever prejudice any of us may have either one way or another,” said Mr McLean in his welcoming address, “the deplorable and ruthless behaviour of that misguided celibate of Central Europe must be condemned .by all right-thinking people, and any effort being made to relieve the suffering of his victims should have our support. “The latest activities of this convalescent maniac are but another proof of the development of the disease with which this poor man is afflicted, and the crisis of his trouble must surely be near at hand. “Like other foolish men that have gone before him, the Austrian corporal is attempting to frustrate the operation of that great and immutable law of cause and effect, the law which all wise men obey, while others must suffer the, consequences of a law which has operated right back from the be-' ginning of things, the law that sent Napoleon to St Helena, the Kaiser to Doorn, and less important persons to the gallows. “Let us therefore in our endeavours to help the suffering rest assured that the tears that blinded the traffic policemen at the Town Hall in Prague as the German troops marched past will yet prove to be the glistening symbols of the coming Nemesis which will surely submerge this foolish fabricator.” CONSUL'S LETTER.

A few days after his speech (says SAPA-Reuter) the Mayor received a letter from the local German Consul recording his profound regret on reading "the accusation against the head of the German nation, which must be regarded as hostile and insulting." The letter went on: “In my capacity as Consul for Germany, and speaking on behalf of the German community of this city, 1 hereby strongly protest against such utterances as made by you on the above occasion. The German community, which also forms part of the loyal citizens of Port Elizabeth, must regard your remarks, uttered in your official capacity as first citizen, with the greatest indignation. “Your speech is therefore more deplorable as it must be interpreted as a direct insult to the German community, which cherishes and admires the Fuehrer and Chancellor for his great deeds and the building up of the newly united and strong Germany.” THE REPLY. To this the Mayor replied: “I duly received your letter of today's date n which you state that your community cherishes and admires the Fuehrer and Chancellor for his great deeds. I leave them to enjoy their own feelings in this respect and would suggest that you return the compliment by allowing me to enjoy that freedom of speech which is allowed throughout the British Commonwealth of Nations and which is. incidentally, so well demonstrated by your characteristic letter.”