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Von Luckner on the Japanese Menace

THE_ most notable interview secured by a pressman with Count von Luckner, c? j “See Adler” fame, on his arrival JS Sydney on May 19, was published in the Daily Telegraph”. The following ex tract of special interest to New Guinea and Samoa, is taken verbatim:— I asked th,e Count his opinion of the German claim for the return of her colonies. ‘‘ We must have our colonies”, he said.

I am sure that Britain will give them back to us. They are a long wav from Britain. They do not matter much to her”, ‘‘But what about New Guinea? That matters a lot to us in Australia. It is right at our door”.

“I think Australia, too, will agree to give it back to Germany, it will be good for her to have the protection of a German naval base and German ships”.

“Protection against whom—Japan?”

“Of course. It is Japan you and Britain must be afraid of. Once you tried to get rid of the label, ‘Made in Germany’.

Now you have instead the label. ‘Made m Japan’.

“Japan is your enemy. That is why the British fleet must be at Singapore.

So you must be good friends with us in Europe.

“And believe me, my friend, behind the back”—he clasped his hands behind him ■—“Germany and Britain are already good friends”.

I asked why Germany, despite the Berlm-Tokio agreement, was supplying China with arms.

“It is a private matter between the German arms firms and the Chinese Government”, he said.

“But German officers are training the Chinese armies”.

“That is just to fight against Bol shevism”.

“What do you think of the Chinese War?”

“It is going very well. Japan becomes weak. I am very pleased. It is good for you, too”.