THE NAZIS ACTIVE

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 70, 19 September 1936, Page 10

THE NAZIS ACTIVE

IN SOUTH-WEST AFRICA AN INQUIRY'S REPORT The report oi me South-West Africa Commission which was tabled in the House of Assembly, contains particularly strong criticism of the "interference in the affairs of the territory" by the Nazi organisation in Germany, says the "Cape Times." "We find that there has been continual interference from the AuslandsOrganisatipn in the affairs of the territory and that, as a result, freedom of speech, of political association, and even of personal conduct has ceased to exist in the Territory for a large number of Germans who are Union subjects, and'who are entitled to the protection of the Mandatory against such infringements of their rights." is a concluding observation of the Commission.

The Commission ridicules the statements of Dr. Hirsekorn : who represented the views of the German community to the' Commission, that there was no interference.

In League circles' in Geneva the absence of unanimous recommendation in favour of incorporation into the Union is particularly noted. The present form of government of South-West Africa js a failure and should be abolished.

There is no legal ' obstacle to the government of the Mandated Territory as a province of the Union subject to the Mandate. ' '

These- are the two main findings of the Commission, consisting of Mr. Justice H. S. van Zyl," chairman, Mr. Justice F. P. van der' Heever, an . Dr. J. E. Holloway, which investigated the existing form of government and the reasons for "the existing dissatisfaction in the' Territory." DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS.

On these two findings, the Commissioners are in agreement, but each submits an individual viewpoint on the future government of the Territory.

v Mr. Justice van -Zyl, the chairman, advises that the Union'could, for the time it assumed the Mandate, -have administered. South-West Africa on the same provincial pattern, as its constituent provinces are governed "and that it can still do •so if it considers it in the best .interests of the Territory," subject, of course, to.the provisions of the Mandate. ' . "'

He thinks the Territory would be in a much better position "if it were to be administered as ah integral portion of. the territory of the "Union in the sense that the same attention is paid by the Union Government and Parliament to the needs and requirements of its inhabitants as is paid to the- needs arid requirements'" of the people of the Union."

He suggests that it should have representatives iri the Union House of Assembly. - Mr.. Justice van den Heever does not consider it expedient to administer the Territory as a province of the Union, but suggests- that it should be governed in : the terms of the schedule to the South Africa Act»" of 1909 by three commissioners appointed for a period; of five years by the Governor-Gerisral in ' Council and answerable to the: Prime Minister of the Union. He suggests that as the Prime Minister is "the .most harassed individual ' in the Cabinet," another Minister should be charged with the administration of the territory.

CLOSER INTEGRATION. Dr. Holloway agrees with the chairman that there should be closer administrative integration of the territory in the Union, and suggests that the Union Government should take over the control of native affairs, land settlement, education, mining, administration of justice, and policing. He also suggests that the territory should be represented in the Union House of Assembly in such a way to ensure'also representation of the German minority.

Among the unanimous recommendations of the Commissioners are that automatic naturalisation of Germans should be discontinued -and 'that all naturalisation be effected under the provisions of the general law on the subject in force in , the Union; that steps be taken to demarcate reserves for Bushmen; that mining ' and agricultural research be undertaken; and that the Mandatory takes more active steps to develop the non-European races from their present backward condition.

The report points out that the native tribes were practically unanimous in thanking the Union Government for the peace and control which had'been established since the Union became Mandatory. Councils of headmen and individual chiefs all expressed their satisfaction with the fdrms of government which had been instituted.

A message states that the Report of the South-west Africa Commission has been received with much interest in Geneva. League circles will not comment, however, until they know what action the Union Government proposes to take upon the report. The Mandates Commission has received an assurance from the Union that there will.be no precipitate action arid the Commission is. therefore, confident that there will be no fait accompli. Consequently will await the next session in October before examining the report. It was stated in high official quarters in Berlin that as the report has not been adopted by the South African Government the German Government did not wish to comment upon it. The report has not been published by the German Press.