NATIONAL ANTHEM

Grey River Argus, 13 May 1938, Page 8

NATIONAL ANTHEM

Question at the Cape

CONTROVERSY AROUSED

CAPETOWN, March 21

The question of the National Anthem has suddenly come into great prominence throughout the Union. At the opening of Parliament by the Governor-General, Sir PatrickDuncan, an Afrikaans song composed bv the late Senator Langenhoven, entitled, “Die Stem van Suid Afrika” (“The Voice of South Africa’’) was played after “God Save the King.’’

This innovation, which was entirely unannounced, led the leader of the Dominion Party, Colonel C. F. Stallard, to ask in Parliament whether this was “intended to be the recognition of that song as the national anthem of South Africa.” General Hertzog, Prime Minister, replied that there was no such intention, but that he hoped that “Die Stem” would in course of time come to be recognised as a national anthem He went on, however, in somewhat, ambiguous language, to explain the position of “God Save the King” in the ceremony and life of the country; and this part of his statement gave rise to certain misgivings on the part of Colonel Stallard and his followers

They accused the Government of trying to depose “God Save the King” from its position. Even among General Hertzog’s own English-speaking supporters there was also a certain amount of misgiving. This led to the putting of another question to the Prime Minister a few days later, but objection taken by the Dominion Party prevented him from replying. His intended reply, however, was issued as a statement to the press, in Which he said quite plainly that as long as the King is King of South Africa, “God Save the King” would retain its place as a solemn invocation to the Almighty and as the best and most appropriate anthem for such occasions.

At the same time, speaking for himself and as he believes, for “the rest of Afrikaans-speaking South Africa and others, ‘Die Stem’ would have the character of their national anthem.” .