GENERAL HERTZOG DEAD

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23802, 23 November 1942, Page 4

GENERAL HERTZOG DEAD

FORMER LEADER IN SOUTH AFRICA PRIME MINISTER FOR FIFTEEN YEARS (8.0 W.) RUGBY, Nov. 21. The death occurred this morning of General J. B. M. Hertzog, who was Prime Minister of South Africa for 15 years. He was 76 years of age. General Hertzog, who was of German origin, was born in South Africa in 1866 and was sent to Amsterdam University, where he studied law. He settled in the Orange Free State, was called to the Bar, and appointed a judge in 1895. During the South African War he was a Boer general, and one of the leaders of the Free State Dutch. He took a prominent part in the consultations that preceded the Peace of Vereeniging, holding out to the end against the moderate counsels of General Botha and General Smuts. General Hertzog was one of those

who drafted the scheme for the Union of South Africa, and took office under General Botha in the first Union Government as Minister of Justice. His former conciliatory attitude was not maintained, and he quarrelled with the moderates, so that General Botha resigned in 1912 and reconstructed his Ministry, leaving out General Hertzog, who then formed his Nationalist Party. When the World War broke out, General Hertzog resisted the co-operation of General Botha and General Smuts with Britain in the campaign. After the war, General Hertzog gained public support, particularly among the Boers. In 1924 his party won 61 seats and was thus the strongest party. General Hertzog became Prime Minister, after obtaining the support of the Labour Party by pledging himself not to demand secession from the British Empire during the life of that T .r----liament. In 1932. when he opposed South Africa following Great Britain’s «x----ample and going off the gold standard. General Hertzog met strong opposition from the public and within his own party, and he then began negotiations with General Smuts for a National Government, which was formed. When war was declared in 1939. General Hertzog, as Prime Minister, moved a motion in the House of Assembly that South Africa’s existing relations with the belligerent countries remain unchanged. To this General Smuts successfully proposed an amendment that relations with Germany be severed, that co-operation be given to the British Commonwealth of Nations, that the necessary measures be taken for the defence of South Africa, but that no forces be sent overseas. The amendment was accepted by 80 votes to 67, and General Hertzog resigned. A new Government was fox-med, with General Smuts as Prime Minister.