SOUTH AFRICA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20799, 19 August 1929, Page 10

SOUTH AFRICA

REPRESENTATION ABROAD. CAPETOWN, August 7In the Assembly this afternoon General Brants, leader of the South African Party, opened a long discussion bn South Africa's external affairs, specially urging the Government to make representation to the British Government emphasising the value to South Africa and the dominions of the preferential system. On the question of South African Envoys Extraordinary, proposed by the Government for appointment to Rpme, Washington and The H a Ptne, General Smuts said that he fully recognised South Africa's right to make such appointments, but he thought it better to spud envoys to Paris and Berlin, where their trade interests were important, and to Geneva for representation on the League of Nations. The Prime Minister, General Hertzog, in reply, said: “It is necessary to show thp world that, if we are ever to be respected, we must not shelter behind the skirts of England. We are not so impoverished as to be unable to spend a few thousands on ambassadors.” Replying to a question whether care would be taken to maintain the principle of diplomatic unity of the Empire, General Hertzog said that his letters of introduction tp foreign Powers would safeguard that principle in a manner satisfactory to himself and Britain. On the question pf preference he said that the Government' had done every-: thing possible to maintain South African interests. Reverting to envoys. General Smuts said ho, was not sure that South Africa was not making itself ridiculous in the eyes of the world. The votes were adopted.