THE BONDS OF EMPIRE

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XIX, Issue 6390, 5 December 1921, Page 2

THE BONDS OF EMPIRE

BRITAIN’S TRUST IK S. AFRICA illLlTAlli’ HANDED OVER. -STIRRING SPEECH BY SHE IS.

(United Servian TclecramaJ (Received 12.3 C jj.in.) CAPETOWN. December 3. Speaking at a banquet at Pretoria to Brigadier-General Carter, I3ritish_ comniancler of the forces, in connection with lli t . banding over of the nrlitnry command to the Union Government, the Prime -Minister, Genera) J. Smuts, described Prince Arthur of Connaught as the mo-'t popular Governor-Genera r South Africa had ever had. The Prince, replying sa;d the handinc over o;' the command was evidence of the mutual eonlidenee between South Africa and the rest of the empire. The Premier in proposing the health of General Carter said hr«j departure dosed'a. great chapter, and marked the climax of a great story, in which the British army played a great and heroicpart. The British ofliycr s in the grant war were mostly trained in South African schools. The final step was taken because a profound fundamental change had come over South A Inca. Tim country was not only united under one strong Government, but the races wore united- in an everlasting and indissoluble pact of peace and friendship, and the- great word ‘-reconciliation” had been written over all differences of the past. South Africa had readied its majority a.s a. nation, and the change was being made in fieriest good faiCh on both sides. The British Government had dealt most generously with South .AfricaT having given the Union air equipment worth C 1.500,000 and military Ipnjds and buildings worth over £'500.000 a.s a mark of goodwill and per. feet trust, ami asked nothing in return. There was only one stipulation, and that wa s that the great Simonstown nava] base",should he adequately defend, od on the land side. The army had passe,] away, but the navy renialin'd our bulwark. If (lie Washington Conference proposal* were accepted the Briti-li navy would still remain ns in (he pnG tin most powerful navy in the world. South Africa and oilier dominions could then proceed with the great task of peaceful development without fear of external danger. Such security was of peculiar adivanFnge in a world full of iullammable. material. The Union would have to be the main bulwark of < ivilisaCon in Smith Africa, and in a modest but real sense it accepted that responsibility.

General Carter, i*cplyinp:. said the Union Government knew what was best for the country and army, and be could now leave with a feeling (> i' the utmost confidence.