3HERTZOG AND HITLER.

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 68, 7 April 1937, Page 4

3HERTZOG AND HITLER.

Tlie rather heated diploinatic passage of arms between Capetown . and Berlin of which we have been hearing during the last few days is of interest from more than one point * of view. In the first place, it is notahle thaft the first and most streimous objection, amounting to definite refusal, to the return of her colonies to Germany should come from an oversea dominion of which the greater part in area was joined up with the British Empire as the result of a quite recent conquest. Still more significant is it to note that, the Prime Minister of thalt dominion was himself one of the most prominnet Africander leaders in the war that resulted in annexation and for years after it closed resisted British domination. Of much more serious interest, however, is it to consider the question as to how far the wholly independent action of General Hertzog and his Government might involve Great Britain, and, indeed, the rest of the Empire, in the quarrel should it possibly take some more ominous shape. The immediate cause of trouble is a proclamation by the Government of tbe Dnion of South Africa, as mandatory over wbat was German South-West Africa, designed for the suppression of German subversive activities in the mandated territory. The terms of this procla/mation have been strongly resented in Berlin, whence has come a warning that can be interpreted only as a threat. At the time of writing we have no word as to what official reply has been given to this communication, but press comment from" Capetown indicates that it is not at all likely to alter General Hertzog' s attitude and . intentions, in which he will probably have widespread popular support. In the meantime we are told that the British Government is ta|king no active part in the controversy and is so far - merely assuming the role of an interested onlooker. How- , ever, although there just now seems little likelihood of anything more than wordy warfare, the incident, as one message says, confronts the British Government — and, so far as that goes the Governments of the other dominions — with the first instajnce of a dominion Government taking independent action in a quarrel of the kind with a foreign Power. That the South African Government has had full waTrant for the Steps it has taken is quite fulily established. Not only have Germa^ residents in South-West Africa been forming organisations designed to undermine the authority of the mandatory Government, but tbere is something in the way of military organisation also. Beyond this every effort is being made to stir up disaffection aimong the native population. To this end great use is being made of radio broadcasting from itnmensely powerful short-wave transmitters that have worldwide listeners. Nor is it in South-West Africa alone that these influences are at work, for like reports are current with regard to what was German Jiast Africa, now the mandatory of Tajngayika, and to New Guinea., while New Zealand may be apecially concerned with like, though less evident, movements in what was German Samoa. It is said that Whitehall officials are fairly well informed and allive as to what is going on and are now listening in to ^11 these radio transmissions and keeping records of them. These will obviously be of considerable value should it ever come for the question of the return of German colonies to be diplomatically discussed, for they will furnish strong evidence of the danger to other nations that would be involved. If Germajny.has really any hope of getting her colonies back, and especially her African colonies, she is certainly going the wrong way about it in the course she is now said to be pur- • suing.