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[Page 122]
COPY.
Darlinghurst Gaol,
SYDNEY, Jan, 26th 1915.
The Honorable
The Minister of Defence
MELBOURNE.
Dear Sir,
I hereby take the liberty to put before you some facts and a request. -
On July 29th, 1913, I sold my plantation in New Ireland in German New Guinea and went to Rabaul to sail to Dutch India, where I made arrangements with the Dutch Government to open a new plantation near the mouth of the River Tami.
In the meantime the war was declared, and I could not leave the capital. When the Australian troops occupied Rabaul, the Treasurer, Capt. Fry offered to me a job in the Gov's Treasury. As I am one of those Germans who really admire the British nation, and who wishes to produce an everlasting friendship between the two great nations, I agreed, and worked nearly three months for the British Government.
In that time I did the most important work by translating the Cash Books, Rent and Tax Lists of the late German Government.
Without my help it would have been absolutely impossible for the Treasurer to get an idea of the late Government's bookkeeping. By order of Col. Holmes, I was treated in every respect as a British subject during that time.
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