GERMANS ABROAD

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20912, 18 September 1939, Page 6

GERMANS ABROAD

Britain’s attitude to alien residents since the outbreak of the present war is in marked contrast to that adopted in 1914, and is, in fact, a striking commentary on the personal feeling of Germans who live in free countries compared with those who come under the influence of the Nazi regime. Most Germans Avhom the Avar found domiciled abroad are not at all likely to sabotage the Allied cause. Thus Britain and all the Dominions have found it possible to grant enemy aliens a large measure of freedom Avithout fear of the consequences. To most of them the Nazis’ actions have carried their OAvn condemnation, and very few Germans abroad desire to forward the cause of Hitlerism. Of course it is necessary to take adequate precautions to ensure that national enthusiasm does not lead individual aliens to acts of rashness, and in a feAv cases it has been necessary to place German residents under restraint, but the wholesale internments that occurred in the Great War have not yet been found necessary in any British country. In Britain there are over 50,000 alien residenis, and the majority of them have not been required to do more than register their names and restrict their movements within reasonable limits. It is clearly evident that the Nazidom of today does not evoke the patriotic fervour that Avas demonstrated by the German people abroad in the early years of the Great War. This tolerant attitude toAvards the ordinary German peojfle in Britain and elseAvhere in the Empire is typical of the Empire’s general approach to the war. The Allied countries in 1914 evinced a fine hatred of everything German. Today there is a feeling of pity for those who come under the iron heel of Hitlerism, and a strong hope that they will throw off the Nazi yoke and replace it with a form of government that Avill again make the Germans tolerable neighbours. How near that desirable event is it is impossible to say. The chances are that the Nazis’ recent spectacular successes have placed them more firmly in command for the time being. But the tide will turn against Herr Hitler and his reign will yet become anathema to the German people. His Aveakness will be shoA\n in the time of the nation’s adversity. .