VERDICT FOR THE PACT

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 147, 23 June 1924, Page 7

VERDICT FOR THE PACT

HERTZOG PARTY'S INTENTIONS

NO EFFORT TO BREAK FROM

BRITAIN,

(ACSTRALIAN-NEW ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION.) CAPE TOWN, 21st June. General Hertzog, when interviewed, was reticent as to whether ho intended to take Labour into the Cabinet, but frankly admitted that he was unable to carry on without Labour support. He claimed that the result of the election was undoubtedly a verdict for the Pact, and attributed the succass to the people being desirous of a change of Govern ment. The Pact was now ended, but the country expected the Labour-Nationalist parties to continue to co-operate. Asked if he was prepared to repeat his assurance that the Nationalists would stand by the pledge to make no effort to change the constitutional relations with Britain as provided in the Act of •Union, General Hertzog declared that the Nationalists, without exception, wero prepared to stand by their pledge, and added: "I say positively that the Nationalists do not look upon secession as a matter of practical politics,- and are not likely to do so till the bulk of tho people, especially the mass of British feeling, is in its favour. The question has never been a Nationalist Party question at all. It has been raised by General Smuts, deliberately, to frighten the English-speaking community. 11 was due in no small measure to the fact that tho people refused any longer to be frightened by the bojrey that the followers of the Labour Party and others have so heartily; supported the Nationalists. I hope the secession bogey has now been definitely laid, and :witli it the .cry of racialism. The Pact has scotched it."

(Received 22nd June, 5.5 p.m.)

CAPE TOWN, 20th June.

The • Pact majority is 29. Many members of the Labour rank and file are opposed to Labour members joining the Hertzog Cabinet, as contrary to the party's cardinal principals, "a Laboui' conference will be held on 29th June to decide the matter. .