SOUTH AFRICA.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16506, 6 August 1919, Page 3

SOUTH AFRICA.

RETURN OF GENERAL SMUTS. PEACE TREATY DISCUSSED. By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. CAPETOWN, August 4. General Smuts has returned and met with a great reception. He appealed to all races that they had been comrades in arms and should now be brothers. Referring to conditions in Europe, General Smuts said there was a danger of the organism of civilisation being destroyed. Ho and General Botha themselves had been under the harrow. That was why they had pleaded with their colleagues that a now spirit should bo shown to tlie old world. On that they took their stand. it was impossible to restore desolate Europe and recreate a now world unless there was a more magnanimous spirit among tho nations.

Tho Peace Treaty contained many provisions which would not help forward tho healing process. Hence his plea, which had been so much criticised. Ho referred to the British policy in South Africa after tho Boer war as illustrating tho soundness of his argument Ho felt this was tho only way to _.d with a. broken country and a broken world. This could only be done by bringing the broken family of_ Europe into the League of Nations. Naturally everyone had a doubt, hut they had scon what tho old system was. A new link was necessary in the development of tho human government. That link seemed to bo tho League of Nations.

Tho time had come when we must look beyond our own country for development and larger vision. Referring to the charge of the Nationalists that ho was going to give away tho rights of South Africa, General Smuts said ho had always preached that the British Empire was a league of States. Tho Empire could only endure upon ono basis—as a league of free, equal, and independent States. Tho idea of Imperial Federalism was unworkable and would load to a breakup of the Empire, but it had the greatest future as a league of free nations co-operating in all matters of defence and taking counsel together _on matters of foreign policy.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ENGINEERING NATIVE STRIKE. CAPETOWN. August 4. Johannesburg reports that information has reached tho authorities indicating that certain agitators, probably Bolshevists, are plotting to bring about a great Native strike from the Cape to the Zambesi on October 1. Native leaders in Johannesburg admit that the Natives are talking of such a strike, but deny that there is any hope of success, 'though they assert that the Natives throughout tho country aro greatly dissatisfied.