SOUTH AFRICA.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 34, 26 September 1914, Page 8

SOUTH AFRICA.

PRO-CERIViAN GENERAL RESIGNS HIS POSITION. »-i> 'Wellington, September 23. Following is the copy ol a telegram from the High Commissioner, London, to the Premier, dated London, September 22, 1914 (12.20 a.m.)

Ollieial.—The Press Bureau publishes the text ol correspondence between Generals Beyers and Smuts regarding the termer’s resignation of the post of Commandant-General ol the South African Defence Forces.

General Beyers said he disapproved of sending commandos to German South-West Africa for the purpose ol conquering that territory. He says ho is surprised that Parliament confirmed the resolution to conquer German South-West Africa, without any provocation towards the Union from Germans. The Government must be ■aware that the majority of Dutchspeaking people in the Union disapprove of our crossing the frontier, and the conferences of commandants at .Pretoria are eloquent testimony of this. General Beyers challenged the Government to appeal to the people withoyt making any compulsion to obtain another result. He said that Great Britain had taken part in the war for’tile sake of right and justice in order to ( protect the independence of the smaller nations and to comply with her treaties, hut the fact that three MinLiters from the British Cabinet resigned shows that even in Lngland tlleid is ,a strong minority who cannot 'be convinced of the righteousness ,o£ the war with Germany. History teaches that whenever it suits her interests Great Britain is ready t° protect smaller nations. Unhappily history also relates instances in which the seerbd rights and independence of smaller nations have been violated and treaties disregarded by the same Empire. Tn proof of this General Beyers says it ns only necessary to indicate how the indepehdonce of the South Afiican Republic and the Orange Free State was violated and what the weight of the gaud River Convention was. It was said that the whr was being waged against the barbarity of the GermansFie has forgiven but not forgotten the barbarities perpetrated in his own country during the South African war. Tn the absence of legitimate grounds for an annexation policy the Government endeavoured t° intimidate the public by declaring that the Government posseses information showing that Germany lias decided, should the opportunity arise, to annex South AH, vica. General Beyers’ opinion is that this will lx? hastened if the' British invade German territory, without having been provoked by Germans. As to”the alleged German annexation scheme ■ this was nothing more than the result of the usual national suspicion attending such matters. Allegations that Germans had already violated the frontier are without ground. Whatever, may happen in South Africa the contest avif! bo decided in Europe. H Germany triumphs and should decided to attack South Africa then, even if Great Britain should be unable to help, they at least would have a sacred and clear case in defending; the country to the utmost, ...provided they stay inside the borders. Meanwhile, General Beyers says, he accepted the post of Commandant-General under the Defence Act, the first section of which provides that our forces are only to be ■employed in the defence of the Union. Should the'enemy penetrate the country it will be the duty of the British to drive him back and pursue him into Ids territory. Why should wo deliberately make enemies P General Beyers saw no way of taking the offensive, add 'said; “As'sincerely as I love this 4 country the people must strongly protest against the sending of Union citU /eh forces over the frontier.” Geiferal Smuts replied that the ciH cumsbauces under which the resignation took place and Jibe terms in which ■General Beyers endeavors to justify hisr action, must leave a very painful impression. True, it was xuowii General Beyers entertained ai objection against war operations in Gmman Sohth-\vest Africa, but we never received the impression, that he would resign. The principal officers were appointed on General Beyers recommendation with his concurrence and the plan of ‘ operations übw being followed was largely recoumended by General Beyers, at a conference of officers. General Smuts’ last last ihstructious before bo .'oil f ; u' Capetown to attend a spec'al session of Parliament were that General Beyers should visit certain regiments on the German border. U was *voll understood that immediately wa v opei atoms were further advanced and co-operation among • various divisions p.'act'cable, General Beyers should undertake the chief . command agauist Die Gen mans in South-west Africa. I he attitude of the Government remains uirkanged and was approved by Parliament. 1 he circumstances in conuec'ion «iih die resignation had mad l a most niq leasunt impression an Ins colleagues and General Smuts, but tins unpleasant impression was aggravated by the allegations contained in the"bitter attack on Great Britain. '1 he -eb.rclice to barbaro is acts 'dining the South African v.mr canm-t justify I be criminal devastation of Belgium and lean only be caluculated to sow hatred ana division amongst the people of South Africa. General Beyers forgets to mention that since the South African'war the British people gave South Africa entire freedom under a constitution which makes it possible to realise national ideals along our Own lines, hud which allows General Beyers to write with impunity a letter for which he would bo liable in tile German Empire to the extreme penalty. As regards othfer statements they had been answered and disposed of. From these discussions, it Would he apparent neither

I the British Empire nor South Africa \uas the aggressor. In the lirst instance war was declared by AustriaHiiligary, and thereafter by Germany. I Under the eirtiUihstances, in Which | the British Government employed' its I utmost powers to maintain the ‘peace 1 of Europe and safeguard the neUt’ralj’ity of Belgium, it was absurd to speak of the aggressive action oil 1 the part of the Union,, seeing that togetliei with the British Empire wo lihvc been drawn against our wish and will entirely in self-defence, into this ■•War. General Smuts’ conviction was That the people of South Africa will in these dark' days, "when the Governbiienb, as Well as the people of South Africa, are put to the Tstipreme tist, liuVe a higher conception of 'duty and honor Than can be deducted Bern GeiieTal-ißeyors’ letetr and aeiion. Dio Dutch-speaking section in part I .ndar. General Smuts could not coucen e ai xthing more fatal and humiliKtmg ■than a policy of lip loyalty ui fair w"a t her bind a policy of ncutrility and I l‘o-German sentiment in days of stoi m find stress. It may be that the peculiar internal circumstances and biidkward conditions after a great war'will place a limit on what they can do, but nevertheless General Smuts was convinced that the people Will Support tile Government in carrying'out the mandate Of PaiTianiidht'Jmd iu this manner ,which is the omy legitimate one, to fulfil their duty to Smith Africa and to the-Empire and maintain their dearly-won honor unblemished for the future.