NEW GOVERNMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 210, 6 September 1939, Page 9

NEW GOVERNMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA.

EARLY FORMATION.

General Smuts' Amendment

Is Carried.

ON SIDE OF BRITAIN. * United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 10 a.m.) CAPETOWN, September 5. General Smuts' amendment, calling for the severance of relations with Germany, against the motion of the Government to keep relations unchanged, was carried by 80 votes to 67. South Africa is thus breaking diplomatic relations with Germany.

General Hertzog, the Prime Minister, has resigned and General Smuts is forming a Ministry. The GovernorGeneral refused General Hertzog's request for a general election.

The amendment also stipulated that all necessary measures should be taken for the defence of South African territory, but the Government should not send forces overseas as in the last war.

The Cabinet was almost evenly divided on the issue of neutrality or co operation with Britain, which General Hertzog made one of confidence. General Hertzog read a declaration of policy regarding South Africa's relations with the various belligerents, which, he said, should persist unchanged and continue as if no war were being waged. He said the existing obligations to Britain and other members of the British Commonwealth would remain unimpaired. He instanced South Africa's part in the British naval base at Simonstown, and her obligations under the League of Nations. He pointed out that a .difference, which, he said, it was impossible to remove, had arisen in the Cabinet on the matter. "Monster of Versailles." General Hertzog said, "It is being said we must enter this war because Germany has shown she is out for wrftld domination. If that had been the case nobody \yould have opposed Germany more fervently than myself, but there is no proof that this is Hitler's object.

"I predicted what would happen in 1935 if the monster of Versailles was unaltered, and if they did not return to Germany what was taken from her, because Hitler has since taken those territories.

"If the injustices of Versailles were not removed there would never be peace in Europe, and Germany, would do anything to end her humiliation. If we go to war the Afrikander nation will suffer a eliock from which ■it will take years to recover."'

General Smuts moved an amendment calling for the severance of relations with Germany and continued co-opera-tion with the Empire, and stated that the Union should take measures for the defence of its territory and interests, but should not necessarily send forces overseas. Would Stand Alone. General Hertzog's course would force South Africa to take sides one way or the other, said General Smuts. If- they parted from the Empire now, when the German demand for the return of South-West Africa came at the point of the bayonet they would stand alone.

He added that his policy was to sever • relations with Germany and have no trade or truck with her. The real issue went far beyond Danzig. The future security of South Africa depended on her not dissociating herself from the Empire. She 1 might not be able to fully participate in the present war on the scale of the Great War, as she must safeguard her home interests.

Colonel W. R. Collins, who, like General Smuts, fought against the British in the South African War, seconded the amendment.

In a House of 150 members, and allowing for the Speaker, the voting on the amendment, which was carried by 80 votes to 67, shows that there were only two abstentions or absentees.

A bill enabling a new Senate to be constituted while the old one still exists has passed all its stages.

Natal received the news of General Smuts' victory with relief. The public had been flabbergasted by General Hertzog's favourable references to Hitler.