28 SEPTEMBER 1945, Page 14

BRITISH ALLEGIANCE

Site,—I would appreciate it very much if you would consider the follow- ing lines for publication in your periodical: " I, —, swear by Almighty God that I will be faithful'and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King George the Sixth, His Heirs and Succes- sors, and that I will, as in duty bound, defend His Majesty, His Heirs and Successors in Person, Crown and Dignity against all enemies and will observe and obey all orders of His Majesty, His Heirs and Successors, and of the Generals and Officers set over me."

This is the oath which I, a German Jewish refugee, was asked to take when I volunteered for the British Army in 1939. We have all done our duty loyally. We have made sacrifices, some of us the supreme sacrifice. When my offer of military service was accepted six years ago, when I took the oath of allegiance, I felt proud, because I was trusted and accepted into the community of British soldiers. What crime have I committed that after my demobilisation I should be reduced to the rank of an Enemy Alien? I was trusted to bear arms on your side, and, taking my oath of allegiance seriously, I cannot get used to the idea of being an alien again. And, quite frankly, I do not see why I should. Surely people have been granted British citizenship before for doing less than what we have done. I appeal to this country's sense of fairness and I sincerely trust that we will be spared the humiliation of being treated as aliens again.—I am, Sir,