SOUTH AFRICA AS A NEUTRAL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1186, 22 July 1911, Page 5

SOUTH AFRICA AS A NEUTRAL.

A CHIMERICAL IDEA. COMMAND OF THE SEA ESSENTIAL TO THE UNION. LETTER BY LORD SELBORNE. By TekcraDh—Press Association—Ooßjriehl (liec. July 21, 9.25 p.m.) London, July 21. Lord Sclbornc, formerly High Commissioner hi South Africa, in a letter to the press replies to the argument of tho South African journal "Volksstem" that South Africa should remain neutral, if Great Britain went to war. Lord Sclborno shows that all parts of the Umpire are dependent on the Navy for their safety. The Navy's duty is to destroy the enemy's ships wherever found, and under no circumstances could it be to thfe Empire's interest that South Africa should remain neutral in a war wherein tho Empire was engaged. Thfi Admiralty had not spent two millions sterling on dockyards at Simonstown at the Capo for amusement. Yet does anybody suppose thai Simonstown win bo used as a naval base and tho rest of South Africa rciuain neutral? Thero was no part of the Empire to which the command of tho sea was moro essential, and if South Africa lost command of the sea the South Africans would bo unable freely to develop their nationalit j', and a foreign Power possessing tho command of the sea need only seize every port from Cape Town to Del'agoa Bay to inflict on South Africa tho complete loss of its trade or compliance, with its directions. AN IMPOSSIBLE POSITION. Melbourne, July 21. Mr. Hughes, Acting-Federal Prime Minister, considers the suggestion of tho Nationalist Press" of South Africa that tho Dominions should observe neutrality in case of war between Britain and a foreign Power as a complete negation of both tho ideal and the effect of tho Empire. Such a position, Mr. Hughes declares, is dangerous and impossible.