SMUTS AND NATIONALISTS
ADMISSION EXTRACTED.
POLICY OF SECESSION. A. and N.Z. CAPETOWN. Sept, 14. The conclusion of the debate on the German South-west Africa Mandate Bill was marked by a striking passage between General Smuts and Mr. Hertzog. Referring to the previous declaration by the Nationalist leader that the Nationalists would abandon agitation on restoration of the old Republics, General Smuts challenged Mr. Hertzog to say whether it was the policy of his party to work for the secession of the Union as a whole.
Mr. Hertzog replied evasively that it was a matter for the Nationalist Party congress to decide. General Smuts, continuing, said that the question was whether the Union had the right to secede. Mr. Hertzog, interrupting, queried Yes or No?" General Smuts answered: "My reply is absolutely ' No.' " Referring to the question of the veto, he said that in ordinary law there was no such thing as veto, but it was the duty of the King to veto any law under which the Union might secede from the Empire, therefore secession was impossible constitutionally, and was only possible by revolution.
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Bibliographic details
New Zealand Herald, Issue 17266, 16 September 1919, Page 7
Word Count
184SMUTS AND NATIONALISTS New Zealand Herald, Issue 17266, 16 September 1919, Page 7
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