FUTURE OF SOUTH AFRICA.

Evening Star, Issue 18833, 6 January 1925, Page 4

FUTURE OF SOUTH AFRICA.

Sixer; lie became Prime Minister, General Ilertzog has on moro Ilian one occasion expressed the hope that the racial feeling which exists between the British and Dutch people in the country would disappear. On his assumption of office he cabled to Mr J. H. Thomas (who was then Colonial Secretary) affirming Ins desire that the, cordial relationship which had prevailed in tho past between His Majesty’s Government and the Union Government would be maintained, and staling that on lies part every effort would be made to promote the mutual welfare of the two peoples and to extend and foster their common interests. On another occasion he said that Groat Britain would always be, so far as he and his Government were concerned, their first and chief friend, and he added that “now, as never before in its history, South Africa should be made to feed that iho Dutch and Luglish should stand together and' end the friction of the past.” Colonel Cresswell (the Labor leader), who as a result of the pact between the Nationalists and Labor Party is Minister of Labor and Defence in the Ilertzog Government, has spoken in a similar strain, and, of course, the conciliatory attitude of General Smuts, the leader of the South African Party, is well known. This is a matter of great importance to the country. It is clear from the testimony of people who have lived in South Africa within the last few years that race friction still exists. This is not to be wondered at when it is remembered that constant misunderstandings and differences in the last hundred years have kept the British and Dutch apart. Mr Putin say Muir, who was a member of the British parliamentary delegation which visited South Africa recently, was impressed with the position, and ho expressed his belief that unless the two races were prepared to work together amicably there was little hope for the future. Ho pointed out that they number only a million and a-half, and that within the limits of their territory they are outnumbered in the proportion of four to one by the native or colored people, who hew wood and draw water for them. Ilacial animosities are not easily conjured away.’ Many examples of the truth of this statement can be found 1 in Europe to-day, but the realisation of a common and permanent danger to white supremacy may do much to obliterate the bitter memories of the past. If the political leaders axe sincere in their expressions on the question —and there is no reason to doubt them —much may be done to foster a spirit of co-operation in developing the vast resources of the country. The report of a Government committee of exports in August last upon the industries and natural resources of the Union regarded the decline of immigration and the alow growth oi the white population of South Africa as being unfortunate for the progress of Die country, but it declared that within the last few years notable progress had been made in the primary industries. The chief planks in the Government’s programme are industrial and agricultural development and extensive land settlement schemes, in which are embodied plans for the relief of unemployment and the devising of means to lessen the evils of periodic droughts and locust invasions. From the point of view of the Empire migration schemes, South Africa at present does not afford inducements to immigrants without means, hut for men with capital the opportunities seem to he encouraging.