RHODESA “VERY ENGLISH.”

Dunstan Times, Issue 3147, 11 December 1922, Page 2

RHODESA “VERY ENGLISH.”

Tin'll."*!! General Smuts and others advocate thiil Rhodesia should enter the Union of South Africa, many residents ixvo opposed io that course. Mrs Tawse .Jollic, M.L.C. who wrote in the ‘ National Review” before Rhodesia declined to enter the Union, says that, (-veil oeoorapliicallv Rhodesia has little association with the South. The common frontier is in the Nor thorn Transvaal a region quite unsuited for Kuropeau Keltfement. which at present is not even linked hy direct railway lines to Rhodesia. The sandy desert ot Rccl'iianalaml lies between the rest of Rhodesia and the Union. The real port of South Rhodesia is Reira ; or. if newer projects are carried out, she will link up with the AVest Coast 01 Africa. Rut the real dividing line is historical a legacy of strife and bitterness between ” the two white races. Other legacies arc the colored and “poor white” folk, labor troubles, and the Indian problem. South Africa is a British Dominion with a Hutch-speaking majority. Rhodesia is practically allRritisli. Ninety-five per cent, of the white population was returned at the last census as English-speaking, though: about U3 per cent, are of Hnten race. In addition to the English-horn, there arc men from Australia and Now Eealand. as well as from the South African colonies. The most casual traveller notices that Rhodesia is “very English.” The English atmosphere, and the present detachment from South African problems, cannot he preserved if Rhodesia goes into union. Mrs Jollie claims that in the Union the predominant sentiment is anti-linpcrialist, not to sav anti-British. In 'answer to this point. Rhodesians arc told to “Trust General Smuts. “It seems: a vast issue to put upon theshoulders of one man. but indeed there is. no one else who counts at all on Ids side in South Africa..” Dominion status, to General Smuts, means sovereign independence and a Iricndly alliance with Great Britain. His political opponent.

(tenoral j-lertzog. wants sovereign independence and a dean cut 1 roill tlio Umpire, and ho lias pointed out that sovereign independence means the right to chohso one's own form of government and one’s own allies. Rhodesians, on the contrary, says .Mrs dollie. want to stay right inside the Kmpire.