TERRORISTS IN AFRICA.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 13306, 16 February 1914, Page 3

TERRORISTS IN AFRICA.

ON A VOLCANO

GENERAL BOTHA'S SPEECH

(Press Assn.— By Telegraph— Copyright.)

CAPETOWN, Feb. 15.

General Botha, the Premier, m a two hours' speech m the Onion Parliament, declared that the workers' grievances were simply an excuse to create a revolution and some of those responsible were sitting m the House now. He caustically attacked Labor members and General Hertzog. He spoko m Dutch, and was repeatedly cheered He described tbe fifth of July outbreak as a war against society — against iunnoent women and children— -an I a mur J ««ous assault on tho people's liberties. He said the condition of Johannesburg on Juiy 5 was that of a volcano. He had seen many tragedies of war, but the situation m Johannesburg was more terrible than all. Had the Government not made the compact with the strikers — mortifying as it was— the consequences would have been more terrific than anything m South Africa's history. With a quarter of a million natives breaking out, and fire and anarchy everywhere thousands of lives would have been lost and millions of pounds' worth of damage done. After referring to Mr Merriman's strictures on the Government he contended that the deportations were the result of the most careful consideration for days and days. It was no frivolous resolution at a moment's notice. The -Government was wholly responsible for the deportations, and Lord Gladstone (GovernorGeneral) had nothing to do therewith. He said the bulk of. the men m the mines and on the railways were '. excellent men, and it was the Government's duty to make their lot as satisfactory as possible. This should be secured constitutionally, but m the present instance the-! terrorists had got under-hand. A majority of. the workers did not desire to strike.

After justifying the proclamation of martial law on the ground that it averted bloodshed, and had frustrated the gravest attack ever made on the nation, he asked whether it was better to imperil many lives or banish nine men?

General Botha continued Ihat it would have been a bad day for South Africa if the deportations liad -not been carried out. He was firmly convinced tliat the Labor leaders never desired a settlement of the grievances.. They were simply sworn enemies of society. He was especially struck by their desire at one stage of the negotiations to eliminate the term "'owner," apparently because they desired that there should be no ownership..

General Botha commended, tliat fact lo South African farmers. He said it was file Government's duty to expel those menacing South Africa's wellbeing. He was confident tliat Parliament would approve of this. The great Black and colored population must be remembered. Unless the whites took steps to prevent a recurrence of recent events the position would be extremely difficult.

General Botha stigmatised as seonnJohau Dnbe (an educated leader of the natives m Natal, who m June wrote to all the chiefs m South Africa, exhorting them not to pay taxes and not to. allow the natives to work for whites) m the Johannesburg Argus, saying the strike would enable the natives to extort what., they wanted from the Government and the employers.

General Botha stigmatised as coundrels those coming to negotiations with the Government with revolvers m their pockets, and then boasting on the public platform of their cowardly actions.

Referring to General Hertoz, General Botha asked why he did not gome to the Government's assistance m July, when he was ashamed m his own Congress/in Orangia to utter a. word m condemnation of the outrages. True patriots would have volunteered their

assistance.

The Premier- said he was unable to understand Mr Merriman's (reasoning. That gentleman had used language without considering the effect, especially abroad.

General Botha cited Mr Ramsay MacDonald's quoting Mr Merriman's allegation that "there. was remarkably slender evidence of a conspiracy." From this General Botha dissented. He proceeded to state that he could have banished the syndicalists to any part of the habitable globe, but the Umgeni- was the only ship available and England was a convenient destination. He declined to contemplate England's sending back the deported men. Mr Jagger and Oppositionists supported the Government. Mr Marshall strongly condemned the deportations, and contended that the vilest criminals were entitled to a trial. RECEPTION OF DEPORTED MEN. (Received Feb. 16, 9.30 a.m.) [ LONDON, Feb. 15. The Labor party contemplated hiring a tug to meet the steamer Umgeni on her arrival from, Capetown with the deported men, but uncertainty as to the port of arrival is likely to frustrate the idea. ■ w . , (Received Feb. 16. 10.30 a.n*T.) , MELBOURNE, February 16. Mr Cook,- Federal Premier, refused to send to Mr Harcourt (Colonial Secretary) a number of petitions from, industrial unions, asking the Imperial Government to restrain South Africa from carrying out the deportation of the strike leaders. Mr Fisher, leader of the Opposition, said he hoped the time would never como when Australia would deport men without trial. , He agreed with Mr Harcourt/ that whatever dominion was tho offender it was not for the Mother Country to interfere.