BOTHA AND HERTZOG.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1668, 7 February 1913, Page 5

BOTHA AND HERTZOG.

SOUTH AFRICA V. THE EMPIRE. "INEXPLICABLE CONDUCT." Bjr Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. February 6, 9.35 p.m.) Cape Town, February G. The Prime Minister, General Botha, in : an interview given Renter's correspondent, stated that General. Hertzog's speeches and conduct were sometimes inexplicable. Instead of supporting a policy of conciliation, he treated it with oonterapt and ridi- ' cule. It was especially General Hertzog's duty to avoid giving the impression that the interests of South Africans were in I conflict with tho interests of the-Empire. A policy directed against the Empire might, in General Hertzog's viow, be de- ' sirablo dn certain circumstances. Some suspicion'attached to General Hertzog on, tho subject of conciliation,.and. it was particularly,necessary for him to be careful in his pubtio utterances. It was impossible for General Hertzog to servo with colleagues, of whom lie had spoken so; bitterly and offensively. General Hertzog had been demanding his (General Botha's) ; resignation,' and the formation of a new Government in which, neither General Botha nor General Hertzog "■'; should be ' I members, and General' : Botha remarked that: he .found the demand acceptable. v The Nationalists as a party have decided to support General Botha. ' General Botha, 1 - in December communicated to the "Volksstem" a statement in i which he replied to the interview in which General Hertzog defended the principle of "South Africa first and the Empire second," as enunciated by. him in the speech in the Eustenburg district that led to tho resignation -of Colonel Leuchais from the Cabinet. General Botha says i "General Hertzog has gratuitously and unnecessarily put tho question whether the interests 'of South Africa should take preference oyer those of the British Empire. This, question should not have been ■put. 'There was no reason for putting it, nor should any reason for it arise in the future. The true interests "of South Africa arc not, and need not be, in conflict with those of. the Empire, from which we derive pur free Constitution. The, only effects of speeches resembling that delivered by General Hertzog on December 8 are to cast doubt on the Government's real policy, ,to create, misunderstanding and es.trangement'among the different sections of the South African people, end to undo 'the great work of the last four or' five years; ; I wish to emphasise that to me the 'interest of South Africa is supreme. .1 believe this view is almost' 'generally; shared by the population of our Union. This;* however, does not excludo that myself and' the .South. Afridnn ,party fully; appreciate Imperial ideas. 1 .Under our free Constitution within the Empire the South, African' nation '.can"'fully, develop its' local patriotism and' national instincts." ,y K ;General Botha further says that the policy of the previous Government.aimed at building up n united country on non-; racial lines, s nnd that' the., new Government frill continue to to the best of its- abilities. ; He regrets General HeTtzog's disclosures of Cabinet proceedings. Moreover, .these, disclosures are onesided and incomplete, and their general effect was misleading. It was unpardonable to ;'suggest T that the Empire was onlyi good as it was useful to Soutn ■Africa., ' Moreover, General Hertzog's pointed condemnation of the policy of racial conciliation, when read in conjunction 'with his other utterances, had been understood to mean that hie policy differ? ed'from that of tho Premier. Therefore .the Government seemed to iipeak with two ■voices,- and as General H«rizog was not prepared to resign nothing remained but ito--.dissolve the Ministry, by his, (General Botha's) own resignation.;; ;•,.'. ,'•'■■