SOUTH AFRICA

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 36, 11 August 1923, Page 21

SOUTH AFRICA

TWO MAlltf POLITICAL

PROBLEMS

THE RIGHT POLICY FOB ENGLAND.

There are two outstanding political problems in South Africa, writes E. D. Simon, in the "Manchester Guardian. 1' The relations of 'the English to the Dutch and of: the white 1 races to the natives, It must be borne in mind that it is » white man's country; families have lived there for many generations, and intend their children to do so. But there are four natives for every white man in the .Union And the native can live on an income one-third of what the white man needs, and is steadily being trained to do more and more skilled work. Roughly, all unskilled and most semi-skilled work, is already done, by natives, so that if the white man cannot keep a skilled job he becomes unemployed or sinks to be a "poor white 1." There has been an alarming increase of these poor whites, of whom there are to-day, over 100,000 living almost at the native level. And there, is much alarm, ,most. strongly expressed in trade union quarters, that unless ebme new policy ie adopted more and more ■ jobs will be taken by the native, with disastrous results for the white.

Many policies are advocated; the Cape has for many years allowed the natives a/.yote; the Orange Free State leaders insist that no vote shgjild ever'be given to him. The missionary wants him treated as an equal; others believe jn. a policy of permanent segregation in native reserves, with no rights except to work for low wages in .the' white man'a country. The Government and General Smuts him-' self are giving the matter their closest attention, and we can only wish them well in their efforts to enable black and white races to live and develop harmoniously side by side. The second great question is tha.t of Anglo-Dutch relations. Our visit brought home to us most forcibly the wonderful effect of Sir Henry Canipbell-Banner-raan's great act of faith in granting full responsible government to the Boers within five years of the end of the Boer War. It is' not realised by everybody in England that there is an actual majority of Dutch voteTs in the Union; and yet, when the Great "War broke out. Generate Botha and' Smute, who had 'been such formidable foes fourteen years earlier, put their services whole-heartedly at the disposal of the Empire, even at the tragic- cost of suppressing a rebellion of come of their old comrades-in-arms. Everybody knows what unforgettable services they -were able to render. Ever since 1905 tba Union has been led by a Dutch Prime Minister, first General Botha, and since his death General Smute, and no men could have done more to remove old bitterness and to cement permanent friendship between the two races. Surely a splendid response to an act of ■. generous trust. General Smuts governs to-day throngh the South African-party, supported about equally by English and Dutch. The principal opposition is a purely Dutch liarty. the Nationalist party, under General Hertzog. There is no Republican party, but it is clearly of the greatest importance, that England'a policy should riot 'jjiv« .aiiy grounds for active discontent. ". What should that policy be? There are three things it should'not be. We should not publish in the press eino.tional telegrams trying' {6 rusirtherri into a war about which the South African public knows nothing. The Chanak" telegram was widely and strongly resented. We should not lay stress on a policy of Imperial preference. South Africa does not demand it, and the true bonds of the British Commonwealth are not material ones: We should not attempt great emigration schemes. There would be the strongest opposition to any Governmentaided immigration into South Africa Oat policy i B clear if we hold the liberal conception of the British Commonwealth as a permanent League of Peace among free Dominions, the binding forces being not primarily those of trade or material interest, but common sentiment and common traditions, personified by: the Crown, and the great common aim of co-operation in the interests of permanent world peace. Our policy must .be to understand and sympathise with the Colonial view, not casually, buffo spend much time and take much trouble in co doing. Our politicians should visif. them fully and freely on all matters of the Dominions, and we> should consult mutual interest.. The great difficulty is, of course, distance, and we should spare no effort constantly to improve the mean* of communication, and so to get into closer and closer . touch. And 60 the British Commonwealth, hy preserving! peace, and friendship among a quarter of the inhabitants of the world; of many and varied races, may show the way for the final success of a real and effective League of Nations.