Ashrawi-Kisch: History Repeats Itself?
by Max Watts

Once upon at time, well, let's be precise, almost precisely 69 years ago, on November 11, 1934, a foreign, Czech, Jewish, ratbag red was supposed to speak to a small group of people in Melbourne. The group was called (all this from memory, post midnite, on 7 November [another anniversary!]) the Committee against War (Peaceniks?) and Fascism.

The Ratbag Red was a - till then unknown in Australia - journo, writer, reffo ex-Germany, soon to be a reffo ex-Europe - called Egon Erwin Kisch.

Actually he, this Kisch, was pretty well known elsewhere, he'd done some pioneering journalism before 1914 - there's even a Kisch journalism prize somewhere in Europe nowadays - And some of his stories have been, belatedly, turned into quite famous films (like "Colonel Redl"). And, that's still much less well known, some very effective RITAing, Resisting Inside the Austrian Army in 1918, in the first World War.

But none of this was at issue then, in 1934. This Anti-War (Peace) Anti-Fa(scism) Congress wanted Kisch to come to Melbourne, (100 years Modern Melbourne !) to tell it, people, about Hitler. Who was a quite unknown quantity in Australia at that time, though obviously, as he was against reds and ratbags, a bit of OK for much of the establishment. Kisch had had a bad time, writing in Berlin against Hitler, who, the moment he came to power, had him busted, beaten, concentrated. But because Kisch was a Czech, and Hitler didn't grab that country for another 5 years, he, Kisch, had got loose, alive, and was now telling people from Paris what a baddie this Hitler really was.

And this Anti-War, Anti-Fascism Committee wanted a speaker who could do just that, for its Melbourne Congress, and they asked some Paris leftie people to send someone. Who could, important, speak English, so they'd understand him, in Melbourne. Kisch was elected, well, appointed, apparently by the Paris Honcho Romain Rolland, and there he was, on the SS Strathcaird, sailing from Marseilles, well, steaming, to Melbourne.

But the German government heard, and spoke, and told, the Australian government, that if such a questionable ratbag were allowed to come to Australia, slander the head of a friendly foreign government, that's the Chancellor of Germany, Adolf Hitler, this would be considered an unfriendly act, and some 10,000 Pounds (that, in 1934, was money) of wool purchases by German firms "would have to be reconsidered".

The Australian, Canberra, government listened, and obeyed. Apparently one Billy Hughes, still important, told one Robert Menzies, not yet important, then only Attorney General, to see to it. Menzies said he would, that Kisch would not speak in Melbourne, in fact that he, Menzies, would see to it that this red ratbag would never set a foot on Australian soil.

And so, when Kisch arrived on the Strathcaird in Fremantle he was told: "No train to Melbourne ! You stay on board &" Kisch continued - slowlier - shipbound, onwards. To Adelaide, and then to Melbourne, where the Congress, delayed - moved itself to the Quay and heard Kisch re Hitler - speaking from the deck.

As the ship pulled out, Kisch jumped, from the railing, 5, 6, meters (he was no light-weight, and 50 by then) onto the quay. Broke his leg, but had set foot on Australia. The order, as nowadays with other illegal boat-persons - was given, the Strathcaird returned to shore, Kisch, broken-legged, was stretchered on board. But when they, SS Strathcaird and Kisch, arrived in Sydney (that's the way it was done, back then) - a - I believe the NSW Supreme - court said he had been unlawfully barred in Melbourne, and Kisch, beginning to be quite widely known, was stretchered ashore.

And there, in a police station, he was given the, it became a famous, Scottish Gaelic Dictation test. He didn't pass, and - as the law allowed barring people for failing such tests in any European language - declared an illegal immigrant. Well, he was a boat person, wasn't he ?

But he was ashore, and another court had him released on bail, and he went promptly to the domaine and spoke (did they already have microphones ?) to 20,000 people. About Hitler, Fascism, War. Peace. And broken legs.

He, Kisch, was carried by huge crowds around Sydney, they apparently singing the Internationale, and he completely upstaged the visiting British Duke (of Gloucester ?) who was supposedly competing with him for the headlines.

Eventually Scottish Gaelic was ruled "not a European Language in the meaning of the act", Kisch remained in Australia for several months, spoke to tens, hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands people. The story reached, and amused, millions. And eventually Kisch wrote a famous book (still in good libraries) about his adventures "Australian Landfall".

He, and the Scottish Gaelic Test, had put Australia on the map. And his 1934-35 visit became an enormous boost for the still tiny Australian Left, the then quickly growing Communist Party.

At some point Kisch said/wrote: "If they (ah, these they !) had simply left things alone, me arrive in Melbourne, I'd have spoken to some hundred, maximum a couple of thousand, people. Thanks to the fuss they made, millions heard what I had to say. About Hitler, Fascism, War&."

Of course Menzies went on to become Pig Iron Bob, a great friend of Fascisms, but eventually, unhappily, he too had to go to war against Hitler. And we all did win that one.

Ah well&. A Palestinian Lady, Hannan Ashrawi, came to Sydney to collect a Peace Prize and speak to a few people. They (ah, always they..) made a big fuss, said she didn't deserve that prize, shouldn't be here& She got the prize, is still (as I write) here, and has thanx to that fuss become known to, heard by, millions. Some history sometimes repeats.

7 November 2003