SOUTH AFRICA AND EMPIRE.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 June 1920, Page 3

SOUTH AFRICA AND EMPIRE.

SPEECH BY GENERAL SMUT'S. (Reuter's Telegram.) CAPETOWN, June 23.' The appointment of Prince Arthur is regarded as a recognition of the high, er status of the South African Union. In the Assembly, General Smuts replying to questions regarding the new position of the Dominions in the matter of foreign relations, said the Empire could only exist oil a basis of complete equality and freedom for aIT dominions. If possible the Empire should sjioak with one voice, but South Africa was not going to he coerced by a majority vote of the rest® of the Empire. Ho hoped a constitutional conference would be called next year to go thoroughly into and clear up the position.

CAPETOWN, June 23.

General Smuts, in a speech in the Assembly regarding the dominions and foreign relations, said ho was sure the other dominions would take up the same position, which should be taken, not only by the dominions, but by the British Government, that no resolution* could be binding on any part of tbc Empire without its free consent. Ho was sure some resolutions could be found in a majority of cases. Tho final decision, so far as the South African Union was concerned, rested and always would rest, with one country and one body, only, viz., the South African. Parliament and Government.