South Africa and the Empire

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21116, 17 March 1934, Page 12

South Africa and the Empire

Until more is known about General Hertzog's Status Bill it would be unwise to take very seriously Professor Morgan's contention that "it may "be a step in the direction of the "dissolution of the Empire." The power of the Governor-General of the Union to reserve bills for the King's assent, a power which can be considered to have lapsed, is formally removed. It is also declared that the King of Great Britain and Ireland is the head of the executive in the Union. The purpose of this last provision, presumably, is to gratify nationalist opinion by making the power of the Crown in South Africa depend, not on the general constitutional law of the Empire, but on a South African statute. Professor Morgan seems to fear that such legislation would reduce the connexion between Great Britain and South Africa to a " personal union" comparable to that which existed between England and Hanover. But there is no certainty that it would have this effect. So long as an inhabitant of South Africa is as much a British citizen as an inhabitant of Great Britain or New Zealand, the connexion between Great Britain and South Africa will remain something more substantial than a personal union. And there is no suggestion in the cabled summary of the bill that any attempt is being made to create a separate South African citizenship.