THE CRISIS IN SOUTH AFRICA.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1631, 24 December 1912, Page 6

THE CRISIS IN SOUTH AFRICA.

It would seem that for the time being General Hertzoo has been very badly beaten in the political struggle in which he pitted himself against his leader, General Botha. There is good reason for satisfaction over this. While Botha has not proved himself to be the strong man he was at first regarded as being, he has had a difficult task as Prime Minister. His Cabinet has never been a harmonious one, and in his role of peacemaker General Botha has not appeared to advantage. It is impossible for the leader of the dominant political party in any country to fill his office satisfactorily, and retain the respect of the public while he permits his subordinates to publicly contradict and {lout his own expressed views and policy. General Hertzog has been doing this for months past, and worse still, has on occasions even pone tho length of acting on his own initiative, and in defiance of the policy of tho Government. In order to avoid a direct breach Genebai

Botha has more than once either ignored or attempted to gloss over his rcckleßß colleague's indiscretions, and by doing so has weakened his own position. Probably General Hertzoo was encouraged by these exhibitions of weakness, to go to greater lengths than he otherwise would have dared, although this is by no means certain. He has shown himself so bitterly hostile to British interests, and so ready to further at all costs the interests of the Dutch population, and to stir up racial feeling, that lie may still have pursued the same course in face of more strenuous opposition than that offered by his party chief. But ho would not then have had so long an opportunity for mischief-making; the breach between himself and General Botha would have como earlier. Now that matters have reached breaking point, and General Botha has taken the extreme step of resigning office rather than submit further to the conduct of his insubordinate colleague; General Hertzoo ,is attempting to cloud the issue. Having been beaten in the struggle—for Botha has been able to reconstruct his Ministry, leaving Hertzog out of ifc—Hertzoo is seeking to make it appear that while he has been fighting for the interest of South Africa, Botha has been plaeinr South Africa second where Imperial issues are at stake. This, of courseis sheer nonsense. General Botha has always been particularly careful —over-careful many have thought— in safeguarding the interests of his own country when Imperial questions were under discussion. "But Hertzoq's attack will appeal to that section of the old Dutch element on which he chiefly relics for support, and may prove embarrassing enough to Botha. One good effect of the development which has taken place, however, will bo the freeing of the Botha- Cabinet from a discordant element which has hampered its efforts and created a feeling of distrust throughout the whole country. General Hertzog, moreover, as a private member, will have_ much fewer opportunities_ for mischiefmaking between British and Dutch in South Africa than he possessed as a member of the Government.