SOUTH AFRICAN COLONIES

Taranaki Daily News, 3 May 1934, Page 5

SOUTH AFRICAN COLONIES

QUESTION OF TRANSFERENCE.

THE ATTITUDE OF BRITAIN.

British Wireless. Rugby, April 30. Mr. J. H. Thomas, Dominions Secretary, in the House of Commons said he. had received no communication from the Government of South Africa containing the statement of General Hertzog, ■ the Prime Minister, in the Union Parliament in reference to the transfer to the Union of British protectorates in South Africa, but in view of Press reports he thought it convenient to state the position of the Government of the United VI Kingdom. Mr. Thomas recalled the pledges given when th? South Africa Bill was before the House of Commons in 1908, and on later occasions on behalf of the Governments in 1919 and 1925, that the Commons would have full opportunity of . discussing and, if they wished, of disapproving any proposed transfer of these territories to the Union. In the House of Lords in 1925 it was > also stated that the Government would not make any decision until both the native population and the white population had had a full opportunity of expressing their views, and that any representations would receive the most careful consideration before the Government came to any final decision. These pledges were repeated on behalf of the present Government both by himself in the Commons and in the House of Lords in Julyjast, Mr. Thomas added. Copies were communicated to General Smuts while he was in England last year.