IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 205, 25 May 1921, Page 5

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

HERTZOG CRITICISES SMUTS’S SPEECH

SOUTH AFRICA’S RIGHTS MUST BE MAINTAINED

By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright Cape Town, May 23. In the Legislative Assembly, General Hertzog, criticising General Smuts’s speech on the Imperial Conference, maintained that General Smuts had no right to go as the Premier of South Africa, which meant that the Union would be virtually bound- by its decisions. South Africa had no interest in the Japanese Treaty, and the Premier should not advise on the subject, otherwise the Union must share the responsibility. Referring to’ the Constitutional Conference, General Hertzog said that South Africa had two alternatives—separation from the Empire or the giving up of her rights. Ho was not prepared to state whether the Nationalists would accept the invitation to ba represented, but in any case he would tell tho, Premier that he' would never permit a single right of South Africa to be interfered with. General- Hertzog concluded by protesting against the Imperial defence policy, lie stated that their defence system was daily being linked to the European military chain, the object being that in future wars South Africa should go hand in hand with Britain.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.