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Hokitika Guardian, 16 August 1928, Page 2

fr would he a mistake, considers an exchange. to attach any serious amount of political importance to the Nationalist demand for a South Alrican Republic. Tlie extreme section of the 'Nationalist Party, including Boers and Afrikanders of the old conservative type, has always clamoured for complete independence, and the demand that the tie with Britain shall be severed his not even the charm of novelty. The claim that the Dominions have acquired a new status since the war .and are now sovereign States m their own right, is a pretext that is not likely to deceive anyone. General Hertzog. in any case, is too shrewd a politician to lend himself to an agitation that would certainly imperil his precarious tenure of office. \V<: may point out, however, a curious confusion of thought into which the Nationalists seem to have fallen in regard to their relations with Britain. What, it is asked, could South Africa do if Britain tried to coerce her into .subjection? The question is in itself absurd; Britain wouldi not and could not attempt to restrain the South Africans by force. But tlie question that the Nationalists should ask themselves is. what would South Africa do if. having “broken the tie,’’ it were attacked by some foreign Bower and no longer had Britain to defend it? This is a matter that may well engage their serious attention before it is too late.