TRANSFER MOOTED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 236, 18 July 1936, Page 5

TRANSFER MOOTED

S. AFRICAN PROTECTORATES. POSITION OF THE UNION. STATEMENT BY MR MacDONALD. (United Press Association—Copyright.) LONDON, July 16. In the House of Commons, the Dominions Secretary (Mr Malcolm MacDonald) made a statement on the South African protectorates. Mr MacDonald said that the aetingHigh Commissioner for the Basutoland and Bechuanaland protectorate and Swaziland, had been in communication with the South African Prime Min-, iter about recent statements in the Union House of Assembly regarding the transfer of these territories to the Union. General Hertzog had stated that he stood by the terms of the aide memoire of last year, and he had confirmed that it was a full statement of the agreement reached between him and the then Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr J. H. Thomas). He had explained that his recent statements were being read as an-expression of his personal hope. If the policy agreed; to in the aide memoire was locally carried out by both Governments, a position would within a few years be created which would permit the transfer of territories to the Union with the goodwill of their populations. “He agrees with the view of his Majesty’s Government that it is essential for th,e success of the; policy of co-operation that it should not lie hurried, and until the policy had a fair trial, predictions as to the period within which it might be expectedto succeed in bringing about a situation which the two Governments had in mind when the aide memoire was issued, must necessarily be in the nature of conjecture.” Mr MacDonald added that he would like to make it clear that there was no agreement or understanding between the Governments that the transfer of territories, of or any one of them, should take place within any specific time, and he went on to speak of the recent generous offer of the Union Government to share in the cost of certain development schemes in the territories. It was made clear to the native authorities that acceptance of the, offer could not impair the pledges already given by the United Kingdom Governnieiit to consult the inhabitants of the territories before any decision was reached as to a transfer. In view of the unteasiness which, it is understood, is still felt by the native authorities on the subject, the United Kingdom Government, Mr MacDonald announced, had come to the conclusion that it would be preferable for the proposal for financial assistance on the part of the Union Government to remain in abeyance for the present, and General Hertzog had stated that lie was entirely willing to agree to this course. MR PI ROW’S STATEMENT. NO AUTHORITY FROM CABINET. LONDON, July 16. In questions in the House of Commons regarding the reported statements of Mr Pirow, the Prime Minister (Mr Stanley Baldwin) was asked whether the Government had officially discussed the question of Germany’s claim to territories in Africa and whether it gave Mr Pirow any reason to believe that the putting forward of such claims be sympathetically entertained by his Majesty’s Government. Mr Baldwin replied that he understood that in an interview with the Press on his return from South Africa, Mr Pirow made, it clear that the impression he had given was the result of personal observations on talks with individuals and groups,_ not the outcome of specific discussions with members of the British Government. As to whether the Government had given Mr Pirow any reason to believe that the putting forward of Germany’s claims would be sympathetically entertained by his Majesty’s Government, his answer was in the negative.—British Official Wireless. South africa and Germany. EXCHANGE OF GOODS NEEDED. BERLIN, July 16. “We gladly acknowledge that the South African and German peoples are closely related. German collaboration has played, and still plays, an important part iu building up South Africa, •said Dr. Gie (South African Minister in Germany) at the launcliinig at Hamburg of a new German liner to ply from the Continent to the Cape. He added that it would be against nature if South Africa and Germany did not exchange goods to a large extent. THE TERRITORIES INDICATED. LONDON, Tuly 16. The diplomatic correspondent of the “Morning Post” says it is now revealed that the territories to which Mr Pirow referred as being possible to cede to Germany include Togoland, the Cameroons, and Portugese Angola. Unless the Government indicates that the “influential circles” whom Mr Pirow alleged lavoured cession were not Ministerial, a large group of members of the House of Commons will demand a full Government statement during the debate on Foreign Affairs a fortnight lienee