SOUTH AFRICA AND THE EMPIRE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 8 September 1926, Page 5

SOUTH AFRICA AND THE EMPIRE

STATEMENT BY GENERAL HERTZOG RELATIONSHIP TO CONTINUE (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Australian & N.Z Cable Association.) CAPETOWN, Sept. 6. The. Prime Minister, General Hertz,og, in a statement, admitted the relationship of the British Commonwealth of Nations, and sincerely hoped it would continue indefinitely in the future, but that such a thing - did not justify the incorporation of the Union Jack in the Union flag. "The Union Jack,” he said, ‘‘is not an Empire flag. It- is the (lag of Britain, and is connected with the Dominions, and, therefore, with what is known as the British Empire, merely bv historical implications. The Government at all times is prepared to have the relationship of South Africa to the Empire symbolised through the medium of the Union Jack, though not by its incorporation "In their flag.” He and the Government were for maintaining the present relations with the British Empire, but for maintaining it with the full integrity of the Union's independent national status. The Union flag is to be symbolic of that independent national status which South Africa as a nation had already achieved. Any suggestion emphasising the relationship of the British Commonwealth through some emblem cv design upon the Union flag would be favourably considered. It the Flag Committee were to recommend the insertion of the Crown upon tiie Union flag he was confident not only that it would meet with the approval of tiie Government, hut that it would offer every satisfaction to both reason and sentiment.

General llertzog denied that he intended to ask the Imperial Conference for a written Dominion Constitution, but he will urge that the necessary steps lie taken to ensure South Africa's status being equal to that of Britain and any other Dominion entitled to international recognition, and to have it published to the world. “I shall proceed to (he Conference,” lie added, ”in the Tull conviction that in the relations of Britain and Hie oilier Dominions as a Commonwealth of free mil ions lies the surest guarantee.”