SOUTH AFRICA

Evening Star, Issue 16717, 25 April 1918, Page 6

SOUTH AFRICA

PASSING OF THE CRISIS. REPUBLICAN MOVEMENT UNCOVERED. HERTZOG’S WHINE BOTHA’S STRAIGHT TALK. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copy-right. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. CAPE TOWN, April 23. During the war debate in ttie Union Assembly Mr Hertzog denied the statement that tha Nationalist propaganda waa intended to hurt the sensibilities of tho British, or that ho had done anything treacherous or seditious. Ho maintained that the rights of self-government had been infringed by .the Government’s war policy and wool-purchase scheme. They wdre ta' oat ' in S t **° British Government’s requests as commands. If the door were closed upon peaceful reform of tho Constitution the result would be violence and an appeal to tho force of arms. The Nationalists were not trying to seduce the people from their allegiance. but were trying to make it clear that they did not stand under the rule of Great Britain. He was perfectly content to stand under the King, so long as he obtained _ex«ctlv the same freedom as Britain tinder her own Parliament. Ho insisted that they owed no allegiance to the British Parliament. He agreed that only along peaceful lines could they hope for the co-operation of both races, and ho did not despair of reaching this aim. He realised that they could not

get independence unless the King gave it. General Botha, replying, said Mr Hertzog now agreed .[that a republic was impossible without force of anus. Why, then, play with fire ? He declared that secret meetings bad been held, and already 8,000 people had been sworn in. Unless this were stopped, a collision was certain. To talk about a republic to-day was hypocrisy. South Africa was perfectly free. The Imperial Government interfered with no Acts of Parliament-, but they must realise that they were- British subjects and. could not owe allegiance to the King and not- to Parliament. He had information which made him regard matters most soriouslv. He warned them that this kind of t.niTc must stop. Whatcould civil war load to but min and disaster? General Botha concluded with an impassioned appeal to members to help to make pence and order prevail in ‘-’nntb Africa. Mr Hertzog said he quite .agreed with General Botha's anpeal for peace.