SOUTH-WEST AFRICA

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21812, 18 June 1936, Page 11

SOUTH-WEST AFRICA

* TO BECOME PART OF UNION ACUTE RACIAL FEELINGS CAPE TOWN, June 16. South Africa proposes to administer South-west Africa as an integral portion of the TT ".ion by taking action under Section VI, of Article XXII. of the league covenant. The Union’s judicial cc<nmission emphasised that no 1 nit should be placed .a such an administration so long as the mandatory nation furnished an annual report to the league. The administration started so hopefully that the Union decided to institute self-government in 1923, when General Smuts concluded an agreement in London with two representatives of the German Government, under which the Union legislated for German nationals, who automatically accepted naturalisation. In January, 1924, the German language was recognised as the official one. The Germans obtained a majority in the first elected Assembly, leading to a close compact between the English and Afrikanders. Racial animosities which developed, however, became acute in 1933, on the formation of the Nazi organisation among adults and school children.

The registration cf sons of Germans, who were automatically naturalised, for military training in the Fatherland and for Labour services, indicates the extent of the racial feelings, although the German Consul attempted to explain that this was done unwittingly. The Germans have resigned from the Legislative Assembly, and have refused to serve on the Administrative Council, resulting in the Assembly petitioning the Union to take South-west Africa over as the fifth province.