AFRICAN NATIONALISTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17111, 17 March 1919, Page 5

AFRICAN NATIONALISTS.

PASSAGE BY WARSHIP, ADMIRAL'S OFFER REFUSED. CAPETOWN, Mar. 1Political circles have lately been engrossed in the Nationalist deputation's explanation of the reversal of their decision to proceed to England aboard the warship Minerva. In the course of a long statement the deputation asserted that everything aboard the Minerva was primitive, and that the life of the officers was wretched, also that there were neither baths nor stewards. The committee of the deputation which visited the Minerva asserted that everything was painted as black as possible by tho officers in order to discourage the deputation. After the Nationalists had handed a copy of the report to the Acting-Premier (Mr. Malan) three of the Ministerialists inspected the accommodation. The latter reported that the captain of the Minerva impressed the delegates not to expect all the conveniences of a first-class passenger steamer, in order to safeguard himself against possible complaints after the voyage. The Ministerialists declare that after full inspection they would not hesitate to accept a passage on the Minerva in the circumstances.

Admiral Fitzherbert has now sent a memorandum to the Governor-General detailing the circumstances of the offer recarding the Minerva. Admiral Fitaherbert states that on February 19 he offered a passage to General Hertzog verbally, provided that suitable accommodation could be found without disturbing the officers, and that the proffered accommodation was first inspected by the delegation. General Hertzog thanked the Admiral cordially and accepted, the conditions. A couple of delegates on the same day inquired with reference to the length of the route and the cost of the voyage, and on the evening of February 19 the deputation accepted the offer. The Admiral, however, reminded the deputation of the condition to inspect the Minerva. This was carried out on the following day, and a refusal of the offer was received at noon on February 21.

Referring to the Nationalist report, Admiral Fitzherbert gathers from Vice-Ad-miral Hill, in charge of the dockyard, and from Captain Raikes, of the Minerva, that several of the statements in the report are incorrect,, while 'Others, though grounded on fact, are much distorted. Admiral Fitzherbert declares that the offer ww genuine; and the idea of discouraging its acceptance never entered his mind. He suggests that if General Herteog and the more responsible delegates considered that any doubt existed regarding the bona fides of the invitation the proper course would have been to consult him before reaching a decision, observing that the offer of the passage was made to General Hertzaffl by himself personally.