SOUTH AFRICAN CRISIS

West Coast Times, 18 February 1914, Page 4

SOUTH AFRICAN CRISIS

BRITISH GOVERNMENT POWER- ’ . LESS. \ UMO'KNI AT LAS PALMAS, fPBR PRESS ASSOCIATION.—COPYRIGHT.] LONDON, Peh. 10. Iha Rt. Hon. Reginald McKenna (Secretary of State for Home Affairs), announced in the House of Common? that the Government had ,no nower to prevent the deported South African Inl'our leaders landing. Waterston, who is an Australian, and Poutsma, who is a naturalised Britisher, cannot he prevented as aliens. The steamer Umgeni called at Las Palmas for provisions, but no one was allowed to embark or disembark. The deported Lahorites Interviewed from a launch, sa’d they intended t< in Ist on landing, but -afterwards decided not to land in order not to compromise the captain and officers, who treated them with kindness . Bren declined th make a statement nending consultation with Hie English leaders. He admitted that deportation was not altogether a surprise. “THE GOVERNMENT WENT MAD,” LONDON, Feb. 1". Poutsma was asked whether it weie true ’hat a plot existed to overthrow the Government. He replied: “The Government lost their heads. Thev wont mad. Such ideas are silly.”