RESTRICTIONS ON ALLIES
Sta,—I am a Pole. I came here two years ago to learn English. I passed Matriculation and I shall join the Forces as soon as I am old enough to do so. I am thoroughly loyal to this country and our cause. I would readily give my life for England. It is a wonderful country and I love it with all my heart.
Why, then, it I want to ride a bicycle in order ro save 'bus fares, have I to write applications? Why am I cross-examined? "What do you need your bicycle for? " and "Where do you want to go with it?" and "What for?" &c. Am I a spy? Do the police consider or st.spect every Ally of spying? There are many thousand aliens here, our Allies, who have lost their families, their properties, in our cause, people who have after all that lost their desire for living. The only thing that makes them live on, the only spark of hope in them, is our ultimate victory. And these people are subjected to registrations, " curfews, restrictions, restrictions imposed on them by whom? By the people who make up their last hope.
Sir, this is a free country, a country that, I repeat, I have learned to love as only an Englishman can love. I agree, I am not im- prisoned. Neither am I likely to be imprisoned. But the Germans are not imprisoned either, and who, except the maniac with the moustache, would consider the Germans a free people? When the Home Guard was started, I was one of the first to volunteer. It is true they were very nice, courteous to me, but they did not take me—alien. A few months ago all alien A.R.P. workers were dis- missed. I have a few friends, Allies, who had to give up their A.R.P. services. Why are we treated like this? Why is it not understood that we, to quote a high naval officer who spoke to us through the B.B.C., "are all in one ship "? Or to quote Mr. Wedgwood's words in the House of Commons on August 22nd: " . . it is out of date to talk of aliens. The only aliens are people who believe in the Nazi form of religion. . . ." This is a war of ideas, ours is the idea of freedom and democracy, of free speech, the German idea is dictatorship.
I should be glad if you would let your readers know about our position ; maybe this will help us to do our bit before joining the Army.—Yours faithfully, SILW1AN SAF1R. 83 Wentworth Road, Golders Green, London, N.W. it.
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