PROTECTORATES IN SOUTH AFRICA

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 5, 6 July 1939, Page 9

PROTECTORATES IN SOUTH AFRICA

TRANSFER ISSUE

INHABITANTS TO BE CONSULTED

(British Oflleia! Wireless.)

RUGBY, July 4.

The , Dominions Secretary, Sir Thomas Inskip, told the House of Commons that he recently received from the South African Government the draft of a memorandum in which, in accordance with the Mac Donald agreement of March, 1938, was set forth the terms under which a transfer of South African Protectorates, if decided upon, should take place. Sir Thomas Inskip said he could not | say when the memorandum would be made public b3' the Union Govern- ! ment. j "The object of the issue of the memoi randum," he added, "is to enable the' | inhabitants of the territories to judge I what the position would be in the event of a transfer. It has been made clear on several occasions that BritaLi would not make any decision regarding a transfer till the inhabitants — native as well as European—had been consulted, and no final conclusion would be reached till Parliament had an opportunity of discussing it. There is no question of varying that pledge."

Further questioned Sir Thomas Inskip said: "I am not able to say when further discussions will take ■ place with the native or other representatives, but the fullest consideration will be given to the wishes and interests of the natives."