SOUTH WEST AFRICA

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 June 1936, Page 7

SOUTH WEST AFRICA

ACUTE RACIAL DIFFERENCES

[BY CABLE PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] (Received June 17, noon.) CAPE TOWN, June 16. Sou Hi Africa proposes to administer South-West Africa as an integral portion of the Union, by taking action under Section G, Article 22, of the League Covenant. The Union’s Judicial Commission emphasises that no limit should bo placed on such administration, so long as the mandatory nation furnished an annual report to the League. The administration started so hopefully that the Union decided Io institute self-government in .1923, when General Smuts concluded an agreement in London, with two representatives of the German Government, whereby tho Union legislated for German nationals, who automatically accepted naturalisation. In January, 1924, the German language was recognised as official. The Germans obtained a majority in the first elected Assembly, leading to a close compact between the English and the Africanders. Racial animosities developed, becoming acute in 1933 on the formation of tho Nazi organisations, and the Hitler jugend among school children. The registration of the sons of Germans, who are automatically naturalised, for military training in the Fatherland, and labour services, indicates the extent of racial feelings. Although the German Consul attempted to explain that this was unwittingly done, the Germans resigned from the Legislative Assembly, and refused to serve on the Administrative Council, resulting in the Assembly petitioning the Union to take South-West Africa over, as a fifth province.

POPULATION INCREASE (Recd. June 17, 2.15 p.m.) PRETORIA, June 16. The census reveals the total population of the South African Union was 9,479,985, an increase of 2,551,405 since 1921. Europeans totalled 1,979,7590, an increase of 459,901.