Nelson Evening Mail MONDAY, JULY 13, 1925 THE BLACKS OF SOUTH AFRICA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 13 July 1925, Page 4

Nelson Evening Mail MONDAY, JULY 13, 1925 THE BLACKS OF SOUTH AFRICA

THE graphic picture which Mr Ward Price, the well-known journalist, draws in the Daily Mail, of the threatened uprising of the black races of South Africa, should at least have one good | effect. If only one, half or even one . ciiinrtcr of wliat Mr Ward Price says of : the upheaval contemplated by the j South African blacks is true, the result should be that the whites will heal their differences and present- a united front to the coming danger. But recently the racial antagonism between the Dutch (or Boer) and British elements of the po-

pulation was increased by the Government’s policy in reference to bi-lingual-ism. General Hertzog, the Prime Mirister, supported strongly by Mr Tielman | Boos, Minister of Justice, proposed to j introduce the principle of bi lingualism 1 into the Government, services, and to base the right to promotion in those servic'd.- on the candidates’ qualification to speak and with both English and Dutch (or Tnal). The Minister of Justice even went so far as to declare that in his <minion no person who was not hit-lingual should hold any post in the Civil Service, and that he, personally, i would not recommend any such person for promotion in that Service. This principle, if put into operation, would mean practically that promotion in the Civil Service of the. Union of South . Africa would be confined to the Dutch and Boers, since they are usually eonver- : sent with their own language and Eng- ! lish. whereas the British in South Africa as a ride know English only. The friction caused by such differences as this, and the antagonism created bv the rancour which characterises politics i:i South Africa ,are fruitful causes of the negro's ardent expectation of achieving the white man's downfall. He knows only the tendency of the white men to differ politically: he knows nothing of their alacrity to combine in the face of a. common danger. Consequently he cannot easily realise the frightful consequences of rebellion to himself and his fellows of kindred black blood. Two things (lie South Africa,n Government i could do to prevent, the catastrophe } which Mr Ward Price predicts. It could purge the country of the black agitators from America, and if cottld pursue a more conciliatory policy towards the British element of the population. 7.1 the blacks were to see that Generals Ilertzog and Smuts wre .Agreed upon a. Native policy which, while conserving the negroes’ interests, avowedly designed strong measures against rebel lion, the blacks would possibly realise that, discretion is the better part of valour.