PROPOSED PACT.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18412, 19 June 1925, Page 9

PROPOSED PACT.

SOUTH AFRICAN OPINION. "STRONGLY AGAINST ANY SUCH COMMITMENT." (*t cable—rnsss ASSOCIATION'—COJTRJOHT.'I (ACSTRAUAX AND X.Z. CABLE AS6OCJATIOX.) (Received Juno 19th, 12.15 a.m.) CATETOWN, Juno 13. Commenting on tho Anglo-French Security Tact, tho ''Capo Times" says: A word of warning may be given to those British commentators who aro apt to assutuo that tho atlitudo of British sympathisers in tho Dominions will bo on© of automatic acquiescence. Thoir thesis is that it is of unquestionable interest to tho Dominions to joiu tho British Government in such an ogreemont with France, whereas tho very opposite is tho truth. There is a very strong body of opinion in tho Dominions, which is convinced that tho teudency of the British Foreign Office to bo intensely preoccupied with European affairs is a disastrous ono from the point of view of tli© truo • welfare of tho British Empire It is ludicrous to say that tho security of Franco is tho main interest of tho various communities of tho Empire. Mr Austen Chamberlain should realiso that opinion in South Africa, without distinction of race, is strongly against any such commitment.