Sunday, January 15, 2012

Naturalization - 1941


At the beginning of 1941 Theodore decided to become a naturalized Australian.  To do this he had to lodge a notice in the local newspaper stating his intentions to become a citizen.

In the January 14th edition of the Adelaide Advertiser there appeared in Public Notices section the following:-

I, THEODORE WILHELM VETTER, of German Nationality, born near Magdeburg, Germany and resident 55 years in Australia, and residing at Eden West, near Adelaide, intend to apply for naturalisation under the Nationality Act 1920-1930.

Unfortunately Theodore had forgotten one little thing – Australia was at war with Germany and as he was still a German citizen by birth, he was an enemy alien and required at the beginning of the war to register as such.

In the second week of February a summons was issued for his arrest under the National Security (Aliens Control) Regulations – a fine of £5, with 10 shillings costs.

As with most fines issued against him Theodore ignored this and lodged his application for Naturalization on March 12th.  He had to provide two references and have a Justice of the Peace witness the document.  The references were from Albert Henry Kruss, who had known Theodore for 40 years, and Garnet Leslie Goldsworthy, who had known him for approximately 8 years.  John Henry Bell was the Justice of Peace who witnessed Theodore declaration.

On the form Theodore had claimed that he was a carpenter/gardener residing at Eden West, that he had come to Australia in December 1886 on board the North German liner “Preussen”.  He had resided in Victoria for 10 years, then moving to South Australia for 3 years, then Western Australia for 6, before settling in Adelaide for the last 35 years. 

He was the son of Louis Vetter & Mathilde Peters, and that he was born on the 23rd of April 1866 at Magdeburg, in the Province of Saxony.  He was 5 ft, 7 inches, with grey hair and blue eyes.  He was a widower, with three children, the eldest two, he had no idea of their whereabouts.  The youngest, Joan Margaret, was residing with a Mrs Press, in Woodville Road, Adelaide, and working at John Martins in Rundle Street.

But like most of Theodore’s dealings with the Law, they caught up with him.  On April 1 at the Adelaide Police Court, Theodore found himself facing Justice Muirhead and Police Prosecutor Crafter.  Inspector Crafter advised the court that “Vetter had come to Australia with his parents in 1886.  He had registered his name on January 15.”  But despite the fact he had eventually registered as an alien, it was too late, Justice Muirhead fined Theodore £10, with 10 shillings costs.  He was allowed to pay the fine in instalments, but if he had of paid it back in February when 1st summonsed he would have received a reduced fine of only £2 10 shillings.   However if he didn’t pay the fine at all he would end up with a month in gaol.  Theodore paid the fine.

As part of the Naturalization process a Police check is done on the applicant.  Sergeant Trezona of the Police Special Branch in Adelaide reported that Theodore had had 6 Police records against him, 2 for breaches of the Master & Servants Act in 1931, 1 for passing a valueless cheque in 1932, one in 1936 for Larceny, but this had been dismissed.  In 1937 he also had an unregistered gun, and then of course the “fail to register as an alien” in April 1941.

Sergeant Trezona also stated that Theodore “is reported to be addicted to drink and is not a good citizen.  Said to have made the following statement in Adelaide streets, “We want our colonies back, we were robbed by the British bastards.  Hitler will rule this country better than the British.”  (He) Is regarded as irresponsible.”

In June of 1941, S.G. Eyles of the Investigation Branch for National Security, interviewed Theodore about his application.  Theodore confirmed everything he had stated on the application, as well as confirming what Sergeant Trezona had reported.  When Mr Eyles asked Theodore    why he was now applying for naturalization after being in Australia for nearly 55 years, Theodore stated it was so he could get the old-age pension.

When asked about his first marriage, the details of which he had left off his application, Theodore stated that he believed his 1st wife was in a Mental Hospital, and that of three children of that marriage, one had died and the other two were living somewhere in Western Australia.

Theodore also confirmed that he had been the President of the German Club in Adelaide prior to World War One, and that he had not come under any notice or interned during that period.

Theodore was asked his opinion of the current war, “he stated that 7 years ago he was of the opinion that Hitler was a wonderful man.  He considered Hitler a social reformer, but in 1935 when Hitler annexed the Saar Valley, he thought that he was too ambitious.  He now thinks Hitler has overstepped the mark and says that he is a “Landgrabber.”  He thinks that the Versailles Treaty was a mistake and that before this war started, England should have given a few colonies back to Germany.

On August 8th the Investigation Branch sent Theodore’s application to the Department of the Interior in Canberra.  They had previously contacted Military Intelligence, who had advised that they did not consider Theodore “a proper person” for naturalization.  But Mr. S.G. Eyles, who had interviewed Theodore had the closing argument against his application, “My opinion of this man is that he is a cunning rascal and is not a fit applicant for naturalization.”

On the 26th of August, 1941 Theodore received the following letter:-
            Dear Sir,
With reference to your application for naturalization I desire to inform you that this matter has received careful consideration, but it is regretted that the issue of a certificate of naturalization in your favour has not been approved.

                                                            Yours faithfully.

                                                                       
We do not know Theodore’s thoughts on receiving this letter, but I can surmise that if Mr Eyles thought Theodore was a Cunning Rascal, Theodore thought Mr Eyles was a lot worse!

You can view a copy of Theodore’s application at the National Archives website under the following reference:-
Series number
A659 Control symbol
1941/1/4019 Contents date range
1941 - 1941 Access status
OpenLocation
Canberra
Barcode
1771085