SOUTH AFRICA AND THE EMPIRE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 29 October 1926, Page 5

SOUTH AFRICA AND THE EMPIRE

LONDON. 27th Oct. The first sitting to-day of the InterImper.inl Relations Committee, under Lord Balfour's chairmanship, has done much to confound the proposers of Imperial disruption. On the whole the press hero has not given undue, prominence to General llerl/.og's early declaration about South Africa's independent status leasing to he a matter of dispute, Inti there are indications that, some foreign countries have been given a picture of General llertzog as the Conference's stormy petrel intent upon raising insuperable problems. However, the atmosphere tit this afternoon’s round table conversational discussions did not even mildly support such a view. “We. haven't got down to tin tacks, but there is not tide .slightest. reason to expect any serious trouble will arise,” was one dominion representatives’ comment to-night. Other assurances were that everything was going most happily and quite in line with General Ilerlzog’s Amsterdam iiall'-do/en speeches in Loudon finds the phrase ‘'Within the Empire” several limes inferable •if 1101 in actual words. 'Those in close touch 'with official circles sitate the optimism that litis, seemingly Hie thorniest problem of the Conference, will not require the use of gardening gloves. They are more convinced that 'General lfertzog’s second thoughts have more to do with trade than with international diplomacy. Even the Research Committee's discussions today revealed South Africa as the keenest advocate of the Empire exchange in all branches of research calculated to help dominion producers of raw materials.

If is freely said that whether in the Conference chamber or committee rooms t lie .spirit of other dominion representatives has done much to assure South Africans that Ihe sentiment of General Hertzog's "Telegrattf” interview can be acc(mi'inodacod ujiUiotH sttraining 'tlio bond of unity. It is understood that Lord Balfour's handling of the Inter-Imperial Committee has been a model rvf tact.

GENERAL HERTZOG'S DELICATE SITUATION

Genet a I lTerlzog’s abstention from several social functions arranged in honour of the dominon visitors caused Iho impression to get -41 broad that lie was suffering from political shyness, and prefers the privacy uf his hole!. Apart from liis'own official announcement that he must conserve his health, those in daily contact with him say General licit ■/,(.“ r is the reverse of this impression. J 1 e is* most genial in the. conference room and most affable in debate. Nevertheless he is a man wrestling with a difficult situation. Intimate friends declare he, is in duly hound to sav something to placate Ihe hack veldters, hut even they know, its he does, which hand feeds them by trade, and recognise what a force the Empire is in creating and protecting their markets. Well-informed observers suggest. 11 1 at. extreme' Smith African opinion can be. met. by the Union's rigid’ to conclude its own commercial treaties and by wider use. of commercial commissioners in foreign countries.

It is suggested that General llertzog will not find his co dominion delegates hostile to reasonable aspirations in .this direction if they do not. clash witli the principle of Empire preference.

“EVERYTHING GOING MOST HAPPILY” GENERAL IfEKTZOG NOT A STORMY PETREL (By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Australian & N. 71. Cable Association.)