ATTITUDE OF SOUTH AFRICA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 14 April 1939, Page 5

ATTITUDE OF SOUTH AFRICA

IN EVENT OF W AR PARTICIPATION TO BE DECIDED BY PARLIAMENT fU.P A —By Electric Telegraph—Copy nrhtl (Received 14th April, 9.0 a.nr) CAPE TOWN. 13th April. The Prime Minister, General Hertzog, speaking at the resumtpion of the Parliamentary session to-day on South Africa’s attitude to the European crisis, later qualified the somewhat unfavourable atmosphere created by hie earlier remarks by declaring that because South Africa possessed an independent status entitling her to be neu-

tral in wartime, it did not follow that she must break off all connection with Britain, her greatest friend. He would be the last to do anything toward breaking that friendship. He added that the Union’s position was the same as Canada’s, whose Prime Minister had declared that the Canadian Parliament must decide about the Dominion’s participation in war. GUARANTEES TO POLAND DOMINIONS NOT ASKED FOR API •tOVAL MJ P A —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Received 14th April. 9 0 a.m.) LONDON. 13th April. The Cape Town correspondent of “The Times” says that at the resumption of Parliament to-day, the Prime Minister, General Hertzog, referring to reports that Mr Chamberlain had stated that the whole Empire had approved the guarantee to Poland, said he doubted the accuracy of the reports. The Dominions had been informed of European developments, but had not been asked to approve any of the steps taken by Britain. He refused the Nationalists’ demand for a foreign affairs debate on the ground that Poland and Albania did not affect South Africa. UP TO WAR ESTABLISHMENT I British Official Wireless) RUGBY, 12th April. The expansion of the Territorial army, which slowed dowm during the Easter holidays, resumed yesterday with renewed vigour. More units yesterday reported themselves up to war establishment and ready to begin duplication, bringing the number of such units up to 22 so far.