GENERAL BOTHA'S LOYALTY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10956, 26 April 1907, Page 2

GENERAL BOTHA'S LOYALTY.

UNITY JOF SOUTH AFRICA.

(Press Assn.4-By Telegraph.— Copyright.) (Received April 26, 10.52 a.rii.) LONDON, April _&. General Bdtha in'ai. interview, described the Standard's ttory , respecting the Transvaal defence force us ridiculous, adding : 'Our aim is to establish un army of defence for the whole of South' Africa, wherein Dutch and British -would, serve side by side. It is no ionger a question of Dutch or English. Wb tire one people, with one ambition, 6np inm, and ought to be culled South Africans." ■| . .

Speaking ;^t a banquet; given. -jti lit/not' of the new Ministry by the citizens of Pretoria, -General Botha said that .British interests would be absolutely safe in the hands of the new Cabinet* The world would see. that -the -iransvual Minitttiyf wiis . as zealous toi the honor of the flag its ally'Ministry, could be. The 'honor und Interest of the ojd population were eoni-'.eined therein. Moreover, they in tlie ..Hhsvaal . were actuated by motives of de*p'grati--<gi tude. becausb the King and the' British > Government and ' people .liad lru|f/ed the < Transvaal peOpl© in a manner unefiutilled -,' in history by the grant of a free Constitution. Was it possible' for the Boers ever to forget such generosity? He declared that Mils impossible. 'His Miifix'try would do its best to create) a great, tinitedi nation in wliich om? Bection Would not regard Ulie other with '.contempt or distrust. directly responsible government -.was Established in Orange River Colony, th© Minutry will begin working towards a united South Africa,, . ',:-.'■ General Botha earnestly denied , tliut thev sought to cripple the mines, And declared that, mhi the contrary, 'the. Ministry would devote all its efforts -toen.courage and help the mines. At the same time the Ministry wanted tlie country ' prospected aiid exploited to' the utmost, and would therefore object to ally combination by powerful corporations or otherwise toj close up, portions of the country. Referring, to the question, of labor, the Premier snid that the Ministry M'ould . not now or in the future take nny extreme measures. v • . '; . * With regard to agriculture, they would continue the endeavors ,of their .predecessors. As regarded education <:i|le. Ministry only claimed that up to a certain, standard Dhtch-speaking children und English -speaking cliildren should be educated each in their own language. With reference to the natives, the Premier 'emphatically repudiated 4ho suggestion that the Boers and > niineowners intended to combine wit|i a view to" reducing the- natives to servile state. On the contrary, the natives Mould be encouraged Io become useful and contented workers. Iu conclusion, General Botha said that the Ministry's policy was not one 'of-, criticism or obstruction, but one of construction and continuity. In this Bpirit he would attend the Colonial.Conferenc, hoping, us lie said, to have an opportunity of laying- thes p matters "before the King, his J)lajesty*s Ministers, my col- '-.:•' leagues from the other colonies,' and thai whole people of the .British Empire." General Botha's speech has produced an excellent, impression in all quartet's. ". .« Viscouut St. Aldwyn^ speaking at a lunch at EtM London, said that he did not remember a speech of which he could speak with Ihgher praise. A fitting motto for General Botlui would be this passage in Virtril :' "Uhder equal laws two uncoiiquered races make an eterhal treaty." Four hundred unemployed paraded the streets of Johannesburg, carrying a. banner with a portrait of General Botha inscribed "Our Only Hope." .... "