EQUALITY OF STATUS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 19 March 1927, Page 10

EQUALITY OF STATUS.

AFRICAN VIEW OF CONFERENCE DECISIONS. By Cable—Pres* Association—Copyrizhl. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. CAPETOWN, March 17. In the ecurso of his speech in Parliament on the Imperial Conference declarations, General Hertzog said, having secured recognition by the British Government of national sovereign freedom, with full reno.uncement by tho British Government of claims on the Dominion or superiority, it would be had polities to indulge in expensive appointments of diplomatic officials m foreign countries, except where necessary for trado and State purposes. He bitterly attacked General Smuts for stating that he (General Hertzog) had declared regarding the Empire that as a lemon it should b© squeezed and thrown away. He ind’gnantly denied using the words, and then repented what he had said years ago was that Empire was only good as far as it was good for us as a country. ‘‘lf it is not good for South Africa, it’s not good for me.” Challenged as to its meaning, the Premier said: “If members think South Africa or any Dominion will remain in the Emp : re, if it is not in their interest to do so, they are wrong.” General Smuts deprecated the tone of the Premier’s speech, and maintained that tile declaration affirmed the status already recognised. He strongly pleaded for a break away from quarrels. They should first build up a new atmospliev© by co-operative, constructive effort.