King Country Chronicle. Thursday, May 25, 1933. SOUTH AFRICA UNITED.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXVII, Issue 4397, 25 May 1933, Page 4

King Country Chronicle. Thursday, May 25, 1933. SOUTH AFRICA UNITED.

Politics in South Africa during the last two decades have been tempestuous and confused. The Boer War left a feeling of bitterness for many years, and although little publicity was given to the political situation, there were rumours of attempted revolution on more than one occasion. At one stage there was an open declaration by the Prime Minister for a severance from the Empire and the formation of a Republic for South Africa, but after being present at one of the Empire Conferences General Hertzog decided that it was better for his country to remain within the Commonwealth of Empire. For many years the feeling between General Hertzog and General Smuts, the former Prime Minister, has been most bitter. General Smuts, since the close of the South African War, has always been a strong supporter of the British Empire status for the South African Union. Early in the year there were indications of a split in the Hertzog Government and it was something- of a surprise when the Prime Minister, without consulting his own party, wrote to Genei'al Smuts suggesting a coalition. It now transpires that the reason for these overtures was the intervention of Mr. Tielman Roos, who wanted to form a third party and make the best bargain possible for joining up with either of the other two. When General Hertzog succeeded General Smuts as Prime Minister in 1924, Mr. Roos became Minister of Justice, and as leader of the Nationalists in the Transvaal was regarded as second in command. In 1929 he resigned his portfolio in order to accept a Judgeship, but his interest in politics i*emained, and some months ago he resigned his judicial position to again enter politics. When General Hertzog made the overtures to General Smuts, there was no opening for Mr. Roos, and he set up a new movement for a National Government, the main platform of which was a deflation of currency. The result of the election has been a phenomenal majority for the Hertzog-Smuts coalition, Mr. Roos himself being rejected. Mr. Roos, however, has rendered a signal service to the South African Union by drawing General Hertzog and General Smuts together. It means the burying of the hatchet between the two leaders of a country where racial antagonism and language have caused an enormous amount of dissension and ill-feeling.