NEUTRALITY IMPOSSIBLE

Taranaki Daily News, 16 September 1939, Page 9

NEUTRALITY IMPOSSIBLE

By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.

SOUTH AFRICAN VIEW

Rec. 9.35 p.m. Johannesburg, Sept. 14. The Minister of Native Affairs. Colonel Denys Reitz, revealed in a speech to-day that the neutrality decision of the former Prime Minister, General Hertzog, was taken withoui consulting either the Cabinet or the party caucus. General Hertzog said, "I am Prime Minister, and I have deeided this." Some Ministers unavailingly appealed for four days for reconsideration. Mr. Reitz added: "Speaking as an old Republican and Boer War veteran, who went to Madagascar rather than submit to the British, I say that neutrality for the Union would have been impossibls without shame." "We cannot wait until the steam-roller is on us," declared General Smuts, Prime Minister, in a message to the people on the Union's war decision. He added that a poUcy of neutrality would have been fatal to South Africa. Germany could not be allowed without a fight to acquire a base from which the Union could be threatened, either by peaceful penetration or war. The Union's role would be the protection and defence of the Union and its interests, including South-west Africa. The Times' correspondent at Pretoria says the resignation of Mr. C. te Water, South African High Commissioner at London. was at his own request. Mr. S. F. Wnterson. South African Minister at Paris, succeeds him. Mr. te Water is expected to enter politics on the side of General Hertzog.