PARTY SMASHED

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 39, 9 November 1940, Page 11

PARTY SMASHED

Nationalists In South Africa

SMUTS STRENGTHENED

(Received November 8, 10.10 p.m.)

LONDON, November 7

' General Hertzog’s resignation from the leadership of the Orange Free State reunited Nationalist Party means a break with the reunited party throughout Soutii Africa, thereby smashing the partyafter 14 months of existence. The Bloemfontein correspondent of “The Times” says that constant intrigue against General Hertzog made his position untenable. The new party, as it was developing, was a freak with which General Hertzog was unable to identify himself.

General Hertzog today made it clear that Dr. Malan, another Nationalist leader, would sooner or later be forced to leave the party. He added that his (Hertzog’s) followers would in the meantime not form a new party bur await developments and advised bifollowers to vote for the Smuts candidate in a forthcoming Parliamentary by-election.

Referring to those thinking that Germany would rectify things in South Africa, he declared that anybody with the nation’s welfare at heart would not sacrifice it in this way. Germany would not safeguard South Africa's independence more than any other nation.

"During the period of uncertainty we must rely on ourselves, not Germany.” He reiterated his_ respect for the English-speaking section of the population, and the necessity for cooperation with it. The Johannesburg correspondent ot the Associated Press of Great Britain says that the split in the reunited party gives the Smuts war effort new impetus. General Hertzog admitted that tens of thousands of Afrikanders were following General Smuts. LONDON, November 7.

At the conference yesterday General Hertzog insisted on equal rights for both sections of the population, British and Afrikander, but the extremists won the day.

"Within the party." said General Hertzog. “there has been a conspiracy to oust me, and for the last 15 months my life bus been made unbearable.” General Hertzog -said months ago a whispering campaign had been startea against Dr. Malan, who at the confer eiice yesterday agreed with Genera: Hertzog that if there was to be a republic it must be achieved constitu tionally and not based on a mere P;t’ liamentary majority.

It was reported from Cape Town yesterday that a complete split develops between the followers of General, Hertzog and the members of the old Nation alist Party during the inaugural emigreof- the reunited party. Opposition was raised against Geucrra Hertzog’s allegedly mild programme, envisaging the admittance ot imn-repulm cans to the reunited party. General Hertzog’s resignation Imcreated a first-class political sensation The former Finance Minister, Mr. Ihiv onga, and other members of the Hertzv--group, also walked out. The reunited Nationalist Party mee. ing was actually designed to deal witl final union between the two Afnkande: irroups under General Hertzog and Dr Malan. If a split with Dr. Malan > -roup has finally come. General Smuts will be faced with far less formidable opposition.