EMPIRE OUTPOSTS.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume IV, Issue 240, 24 September 1914, Page 5

EMPIRE OUTPOSTS.

SOUTH AFRICA. GENERAL BEYER’S RESIGNATION, VEILED DISLOYAL LETTER. PRO-GERMAN SENTIMENTS. London. Sept. 22, 12.30 a.m. The Official Press Bureau publishes the text of the correspondence between Brigadier General Beyers ana General Smuts regarding the iormer’s resignation of the post ot Commandant-General of the Citizen Forces, Union of South Africa. General Beyers says that- he disapproved ot sending commandos to German South-West Africa for the purpose of conquering that territory , lie says that he is surprised that Parliament has confirmed, the resolution to conquer German South-West Africa without any provocation towards the Union from the Germans. The Government must be aware that a majority of the Dutch-speaking people in the Union disapprove of our crossing the frontier, and the conferences of commandants in Pre toria are eloquent testimony to this. General Beyers challenged the Government to appeal to the people without using compulsion to obtain another result. He said that Great Britain had taken part in the war for the sake of right and justice in

order to protect the independence of smaller nations and to comply with treaties, but the fact that three Ministers from the British Cabinet had resigned showed that, even nt England there was a strong minority who could not be convinced of the righteousness of war with Germany, j History taught that whenever it suited her interests Great Britain was ready to protect smaller nations. Unhappily history also relates instances in which the sacred rights an* independence of smaller nations had been violated and treaties disregarded by the' same Empire. In proof of this General Beyers says that it is only necessary to indicate how the independence of the South African Republic and Orange Free State was violated, and what weight was given to the Sand River Convention. It was said that war was being waged against the barbarity of the Germans. He had forgiven. but not forgotten, the barbarities perpetrated in his own country during the South African War. In the absence of legitimate grounds for an annexation policy the Government had endeavoured to intimidate the public by declaring that the Government possessed in formation showing that the Germans had decided, should opportunity arise, to annex South Africa.

General Beyers’ opinion is tint ithis would be hastened 11 the British invaded German territory without having been provoked by the Germans. As to the alleged annexation scheme, this was noticing more than a result of the usual national suspicion attending such matters. The allegations that Germans had already violated the frontier w«rc ungrounded. Whatever might happen in South Africa, the contest would be decided in Europe. If Germany triuihphed and should decide to attack South Africa, then, even it Great Britain should Vie unable to help, they at least would have a sacred and clean ease in defending their country to the utmost provided that they stayed inside their borders meanwhile. General Beyers says that he accepted the post of Commandant-General under the Defence Act, the first section of which provided that the forces were only to be employed in defence of the Union. Should the enemy penetrate the country it would be the British duty to drive him back and pursue him into his territory. Why should they deliberately make enemies ! General Beyers said he saw no way of taking the offensive, and concluded: “Sincerely as 1 love this country and people. 1 must strongly protest against sending the Union’s citizen forces over the frontier.’’

GENERAL SMUTS’ REPLY. THINGS BEYERS FORGETS. UNION’S DUTY TO THE EMPIRE. GOVERNMENT WILL DO ITS DUTY. General Smuts replied that the eircunmtt’iicts under which the re-, signation took place, and the terms in which General Beyers endeavoured to justify his action, must leave a very painful impression. True it was known that General Beyers entertained an objection against war operations in German South-West Africa, but he (Mr. Smuts) had never received the impression that he would resign. The principal officers were appointed on General Beyers’ recommendation and with his concurrence, and the plan of operations now being followed was largely recommended by General Beyers, at the conference of officers. Mr. Smut a’ last instructions before he left for Capetown to attend a special session of Parliament were that General Beyers should visit certain regiments on the German border. It was well understood that immediately war operations were further advanced and co-operation among the various divisions practicable General Beyers should undertake the chief command against German South-West, Africa. The attitude of the Government remained unchanged, and was approved by Parliament. The circumstances in connection with the resignation, had made a most unpleasant impression on his colleagues and Mr. Smuts, but this unpleasant impression was aggravated by the allegations contained in the bitter attack on Great Britain. Reference to the barbarous acts during the South African Mar could not justify the criminal devastation of Belgium, and could only be calculated to sow hatred and division among the people ot South Africa. General Beyers lorgqjts to mention that since the South African War the British people gave South Africa entire freedom under a constitution which makes it possible to realise their national ideals along their own lines, and which allows General Beyers to write with impunity a letter for which he would be liable in the German Empire to the extreme penalty. As regards other statements they had been answered ami disposed of. I I'om these discussion it would be apparent that neither The British Empire nor South Africa was the aggressor in the struggle. The war in the first instance was declared by AustriaHungary. and thereafter by Germany under circumstances in which the "British Government employed the utmost powers to maintain the peace of Europe and safeguard the neutrality of Belgium. It was absurd to speak of aggressive action on the part of the Union, seeing that, together with the British Empire wo had been , drawn against our’v.ibh and will entirely in selfdefence into this war. Mr. Smuts conviction was that the people of South Africa would, in these dark days, when the Government as 'veil as people of South Africa were put to the supreme test have a higher conception of duty and honour than could be deduced front General Beyers’ letter ami action. Mr. Smuts could not conceive anything more fatal and humiliating than a policy of lip-loyalty in fair weather and a policy of neutrality and proGerman sentiment, in days of storm and stress. It may be that peculiar internal circumstances a,nd their backward condition after a great war would place a limit on what they could do, but nevertheless Mr. Smuts was convinced that the people would support the Government in carrying out the mandate ot Parliament, and in this manner, which is the only legitimate one, fulfil their duty to South Africa and to the Empire, and maintain their dearly won honour unblemished for the future. [Brigadier General Heyers has a practice as a solicitor, and is a member and Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Transvaal. He was born in the Stellenbosch District, Cape Colony, in 1869. On the outbreak of the Boer war he served as a private, but. subsequently rose to the rank of Assistant Commandant General in the Northern District of Transvaal. He captured a British camp at Nooitgedacht, ami was afterwards chairinan of the Vcrt-ening Peace Conference.J

CAPE PRESS CONDEMNS BEYERS. The Cape Town press unanimously condemns General Beyers, emphasising the fact that lie deferred his resignation until lie was in possession of the Government’s plan of campaign.