The Evening Star THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1934. PRINCE IN SOUTH AFRICA.

Evening Star, Issue 21640, 8 February 1934, Page 8

The Evening Star THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1934. PRINCE IN SOUTH AFRICA.

Fourth of the King’s sons, Prince George, who is now in his thirty-second year, has received a warm welcome in Soutli Africa. These Royal tours have become a feature in the life of the Empire. The King himself perceived their value when, before his accession, he came to these southern dominions, and he has encouraged his sons to follow his example. The Duke of Gloucester is immersed in his military duties, but the other three of the Royal brothers have travelled far and wide. Referred to as the “ Empire’s Ambassador,” the Prince of Wales, both at Home and abroad, has done much to foster the fraternal spirit that is so necessary if the unity of the British communities is to be maintained. Half a century ago people in New Zealand, Australia, and Canada talked glibly of “ cutting the painter.” The folly of such a course is now evident in the light of events that have intervened, and the evolution of Empire affairs has given freedom to the units in the British Commonwealth of Nations while retaining an essential bond. When the Prince of Wales first paid his official visit to South Africa some trepidation was felt regarding his reception by the Dutch element. Such fears proved groundless. General Hertzog and the other prominent Nationalists gave him a warm welcome, and it was noticed that from that date the Dutch hostility to the British, a legacy from the South African War, sensibly diminished. It was reported that the only jarring note struck on the Prince’s arrival at Cape Town on Monday, which was directed at the Prime Minister rather than at the Prince, was the statement by a Malanite newspaper that the visit had come at an exceptionally unfavourable period, for General Hertzog welcomed the Prince with one hand on behalf of the people, while with the other he was signing a declaration of war against his fellow Nationalists. This, being interpreted, means that there is still an irreconcilable body of Dutch people in the Union, and the most prominent among the leaders of this section is Dr Malan. These extreme Nationalists look with suspicion upon any party which desires to offer co-operation with the British in South Africa. They still cling to the old idea of complete independence, to which the British portion of the population will never agree. They want to push tho Afrikaans language and Afrikaans culture with a vigour which they know must arouse the opposition of the English-speaking section. They aim at an Afrikander nation rather than a South African nation. General Hertzog once held this idea, but he has developed from an unrelenting political leader into a statesman. When the Nationalist Party, headed by him, came into power

in 1924- it' gave the country a Hag of its own, swept away British titles and most of tho British trade preferences, and asserted its complete independence at every opportunity. But tho passing of the Statute of Westminster and contacts with British statesmen and others changed the whole position. The admission of complete independence in the statute removed the reason for a secessionist and Republican cause. General Hertzog was satisfied with tho course of events, and his energies are now directed to an attempt to attain racial unity in South Africa, it means the revival of the policy of General Botha, which General Hertzog rejected twenty years ago. To-day tile position has changed greatly, and we see the two long-standing political opponents. General Hertzog and General Smuts, working in the same Government with the common object of ending the old obstacle of a narrow and exclusive Afrikanderism. That spirit, cherished by Dr Malan and other extremists, still lies across the political path. There is a danger that South Africa will be immersed again in the old racial struggle, but it is hoped that the prestige of the fusion Government, under General Hertzog and General Smuts, will prevail in its courageous attempt to banish the old racial prejudices and bring a new era into the country’s polities.