SOUTH AFRICA AND THE EMPIRE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 4592, 22 June 1917, Page 5

SOUTH AFRICA AND THE EMPIRE.

NATIONALISTS’ DISLOYAL WIOVE.

FUTILE EFFORT TO DIVIDE BRITISH AND BOERS.

LxIBOUR SUPPORTS THE GOV-

ERNMENT.

Australian and , N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, June 20., The Capetown Assembly was crowded.

Mr Mer-riman described the efforts to divide the two white races as devil’s work.

Mr Dewst-all moved an amendmentregretting there should be an impression that people’s natural aspirations regarding independence w,ere disloyal and unlawful. , Mr. Cresswell supported Mr. Merriman. The lie said, would be filled with alarm at the possibility of South-West. Africa reverting to Germany. They could not contemplate with equanimity the re-estab-lishment of a German power within their borders. Nationalists talked about a republic. He asked how 1 long would its freedom last if it was at the mercy of the German black African Empire. The Labourites would continue to support the Government's war policy. General Botha emphasised! that Britain since granting the constitution had never had a single occasion to interfere with South Africa. The- great majority did not want civil war. Fl© asked whether the minority was going to. force- it. Mr Hertzog contended that nothing constitutional would preclude him from conducting a pro-Repub-Jic propaganda. South Africa had not yet received freedom. He was a theoretical Republican. He did not advocate a Republic to-day. He realised) there was no hope of it until all sections asked Britain for independence.

STRONG PRO-BRITISH VOTE. MINORITY SOLELY NATIONALISTS. . (Received \June 21, 2.45 p.m. CAPETOWN, June 20. Mr Merriman’s motion was carried by seventy-two to twenty-nine, after Mr Dewall’s amendment had been negatived by a large majority. The minority ini divisions was composed solely of Nationalists.