SOUTH AFRICAN POLICY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23896, 25 August 1939, Page 10

SOUTH AFRICAN POLICY

DR MALAN ON “NEUTRALITY” OPPOSITION LEADER’S VIEWS (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) CAPETOWN, July 21. Dr D. F. Malan, Leader of the Nationalist Party, protested against what he called the “ war policy ” of the Government in a speech at Malmesbury. “ We do not want neutrality under all circumstances,” he said. The recent voluntary registration was a complete flop, but if an assurance was given that men would be used only to defend South Africa against attack, young men would swarm to the registration bureaus. “We are a free, independent nation, and insist that we shall be treated as such. We are not free if it is our duty to help England when she is in trouble, and if that is the case, the sooner the British connection is broken the better. “We are also told how safe we are "as a member of the Commonwealth. This argument makes no impression on us to-day. Smaller States in a much more dangerous position have adopted a policy of neutrality. Many have refused to accept a guarantee of independence from mighty Powers.” Dr Malan then went on to discuss the position of South-west Africa. “If Germany attacks South-west Africa,” he said, “it will only happen if a war is over and Germany has been victorious, _ What else would it mean but suicide if we then declared war against Germany? We would merely be declaring war because of something which is not and never has been ours., “ We do take an interest in Southwest Africa, and there are reasons why I should like to see South-west Africa included in the Union. Elut we must obtain it by peaceful means., at a conference fable where Germany is represented, and I am sure a satisfactory solution would be arrived at.”