Propaganda"

"Subversive Nazi Propaganda"

N.G. Missionary's Protest Against Silly Reports

A STRONGLY-worded protest against the manner in which all German missionaries in New Guinea have been charged, in Australian newspapers, with “subversive” and “pro-Nazi” activities, has been made by Rev. J. G. Madigan, Roman Catholic priest in Rabaul. He points out that no fair distinction is be ing made between the mission bodies, and especially between the German Roman Catholic missionaries and German mem bers of other missions. ‘‘The Catholic Mission”, he says, “is spread all over the controlled portions of the Territory. It embraces Vicariates under four Bishops and, being Catholic, its missionaries are drawn from many nations.

“From the beginning of the war (which no one laments more than the Catholic missionary) not one German Catholic missionary has been accused or even sus pected of spreading subversive Nazi propaganda among the natives. The amazing thing is how anyone, with even a superficial acquaintance with Catholic ism and Nazism, could suspect a Catholic missionary of urging the claims of a system which aims at destroying all forms of Christianity in the world. The German missionary enjoys greater liberty and freedom in the Mandated Territory than his co-religionists in Ger many. Then why should any missionary abuse his freedom and advocate the in troduction of what would destroy all Christianity and civilisation in New Guinea?

I am fully aware of allegations of dis toyalty against certain New Guinea mis sionaries. Whether the charges are wholly or partially true I do not assume the province of determining. But, as they «Tfi tlle British flag the accused win, it they so desire, have an oppor tunity of stating their side of the case before a properly constituted Tribunal. ‘My long experience with natives drawn from different and distant parts of the Territory is that the intelligent native is far more concerned in trying to find a solution of the mental problem of why European nations, boasting cen turies of Christian civilisation, are fight ing among themselves, than with any Nazi propaganda.

“As an Australian missionary with 16 years of continued residence in New Guinea 00 hope that those who make accusations against New Guinea mission aries will at least have the decency to clanfy their statements and indicate to whom they refer.”

Mr. James Alexander Jenkins, who joined the staff of the Bank of NS W Suva, Fiji, four months ago, died in hos pital on December 12, following an op eration. He was 22 years of age Mr Jennings was a member of the Suva Battery of the Fiji Defence Force and was buried with full military honours.

Mr. L. Tracey, of Steamships Trading Co. Ltd., of Port Moresby, arrived in Aus tralia in December from Papua to spend three months’ leave.

Mr. L. Lonngrenn, second lieutenant in the Fiji Defence Force, reached Sydney from Suva in December to join the Royal Australian Air Force. He is the first Fiji resident to enlist for service overseas.