SOUTH AFRICA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17698, 8 August 1919, Page 5

SOUTH AFRICA

POST-WAR PROBLEMS

POWER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE.

Prtee AjMOciation—By Telegraph—Copyright. CAPETOWN, August 6. Generals Botha and Smuts were entertained at luncheon by the Union Administration.

General Botha, in a speech, said it was sheer folly to talk about racialism. The South African Union had closed the book of the past and opened a new book. He said there was need of the development of industry and better and cheaper shipping facilities. The time had come for a conference of the British dominions to discuss the question of a dominions' shipping service. He hoped the British Government would see the fairness of allowing South Africa to retain tho 13 prize ships seized in South African waters. General Smuts said three things of the most vital importance stood out as a result of the end of the war. The first was the immense preponderance of the British Empire, not only from the physical, but also from the moral uoint of view. Whatever had been in the uast, whatever might be in the future, the British Empire would be far and away the most potent instrument for' good or evil that ever existed in the world. Secondly, there was the rise in wealth and power' in the United States. America was going to be tho greatest Power to reckon with, apart from the British Empire. Thirdly, there was the decline of Europe itself, not only relatively, but intrinsically. Whatever the result to Europe, victory or defeat must mean enormous debts, the dislocation of industry, unemployment, and unsettlement. Young countries were going to get their chance, and among them South Africa had a tremendous chance in the immediate future.—A, and N.Z. Cable.