THE SOUTH AFRICAN SITUATION

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2403, 8 March 1915, Page 4

THE SOUTH AFRICAN SITUATION

Ait animated debate has taken place in the Union Parliament in Oapc Town in connection with, the late rebellion in South Africa, and the Government have lost no time in indicating the policy which they intend to pursue with regard to tho_se who took up arms against constituted authority. It is -not a harsh and vindictive policy, but it'is of such a nature as to deeply impress those whom it most intimately concerns. The execution of the rebel Foukie, the imprisonment of De Wet, and the infliction of penalties in other instances will exercise a salutary influence upon that small and intransigent section of back'velders who looked for a, restoration .of the old republican idea and the consequent banishment of the British flag from the Gape to the Zambesi. ■Generals Botha, and Smuts "have already shown by their draconian action in the late industrial upheaval that lawlessness of all kinds will be promptly and,sternly repressed, and their attitude' in -regard to tho rebellion. which -at one time threatened the stability of the Imperial connection, will still further-enhance their -reputation. The question was asked at the time, Why is it' that the Union Government declines to use British forces in preference to Dutch to suppress the rising 1 The Minister of Defence supplied the answer on Friday last in the Assembly. "The .Government," said Me. Smuts, "regarded the rebellion as a blot on the Dutch people, and it was their duty and privilege to wipe out the disgrace." General Botha, as head of the Government, has stated that the day on which, as an honourable man, he was compelled to command Dutch forces to suppress the rebellion was one of the saddest in his life; but tlie call of duty was paramount. It is a pity that another South African leader could not have seen it compatible with his position to have adopted a similar patriotic attitude, but the rancour of personal animus burns deeply in the breast of General Hertzog. A keen lawyer and a versatile politician, the member for Smithfield, as representing the most reactionary elements in' the sub-continent, is, and we suppose al-. ways will remain, an implacable foe of General Botha and of the British connection. Tho vigorous attitude of the Government and on the whole the excellent conduct of the Dutch-speaking community shattered the last aspirations of the General. The Treaty of Vereeniging is a sacred pact between Dutch and English. It neralded a new dawn in tho hitherto sombre atmosphere of South African internal development, and above all it proved to the whole world that Afrikanders are not'prepared to treat a solemn obligation aa merely a scrap of paper.