LATE NEWS NO HOPE OF PEACE

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 76, 27 September 1927, Page 10

LATE NEWS NO HOPE OF PEACE

SOUTH AFRICAN FLAG

HERTZOG'S BITTER TO&E

GOVERNMENT RESOLUTE *

(United Press Association.—Copyright.) (Sydney Sun Cable.)

(Received 27th September, 1130 p.miy CAPETOWN, 26th" Sept. General Hertzog, Prime Miniater Jof South Africa, in a speech at Pretoria, shattered any hopes of a peaceful settlement of the flag question, tho speech being one of extraordinary t'ruculenee and arrogance. He admitted that vihen ,he returned from the Imperial Conference he had desired to postpone for. some years the flag question,' but this he found impossible.- "We dare not wait any v longer," he said, "for the people's flag for the people of South Africa. We sec ths disunity and bitterness caused already, and therefore it is necessary to put a period to that feeling."

General Hertzog proceeded violently to attack General Smuts, describing him as "the head of the Empire Group." " We want peace," he continued, "and therefore the sooner wa settle the flag question the better." He ascribed opposition to the flag to the old Jingo spirit hating the .movement. If the Government lost-at the referendum, it would by no means be the end of the flag question, for no national spirit was ever kept down by % foreign Jingo spirit. "The Government," he concluded, " will' not' take a single step to make . the smallest amendment." -- ■ .