LATE NEWS

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 141, 17 June 1922, Page 6

LATE NEWS

"DISASTROUS EFFECT"

SMUTS'S MESSAGE TO HOLMAN

RAND STRIKE AND N.S.W.

ELECTION.

(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.—COPYRIGHT.) (AUSTRAM.AK-NEIV ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION.) (Received June 17, 2 p.m.) CAPETOWN, 16th June. Replying in the House of Assembly to a question by Mr. Waterston, the Labour member, as to why he had sent a cable message to Mr. Hohnan (ex-Premier) during the New South Wales elections, General Smuts said that Mr. Holman, who was a friend of his, had telegraphed that the revolution on the Rand was one of the main, issues at the elections, and asking what the situation was. General Smuts sent in reply almost as colourless a statement on the situation as could possibly be imagined. A Nationalist member: "It had a very disastrous, effect."

General Smuts: "I don't think tho disastrous effect was due to my wire, but to the revolution and the collapse of the revolution. That must have had a tremendous effect in Australia and in every other country. People all over the world were closely watching these grave happenings, and when they sa.w the strike working up to armed revolution with heavy bloodshed, like the mine war, and noted how the Government dealt with the situation in the end, no doubt it made a great impression. That was what must have impressed the electors of New South Wales, not my colourless cable."

Mr. Sampson (Labour): " That is not the opinion there."

General Smuts: " I certainly never thought to bring about the grave disaster that befel the Labour Party." (Laughter.)