SOUTH AFRICA’S FLAG

Shannon News, 31 August 1926, Page 4

SOUTH AFRICA’S FLAG

THIS SECESSION IDEA. DISCUSSION. BY POLITICIANS. CAPETOWN, July 12. The South African Labour Party is still discussing' the flag- problem. Mr. Hay,' who defeated General Smuts, speaking at a public meeting', accused the Nationalists of breaking the spirit of the pact by which they gain, ed office, in continuing to foster the idea of ultimate secesion. . A member of the Cabinet to-day replying, denied that the Flag Bill had anything to do with secession. Gen. eral Hertzog mere stated that it was foolish to publish that South Africa had equal status if Britain refused to make such a statement at the Imperial Conference. Mr. Hay retorts that if secession is a dead issue ,why do not the Nationalists drop the whole thing? Quoting Britain’s offer, of £10,000,,. 000 to Kenya colony, Mr. Hay states that it is easy to see that Britain talces care of her “true” British colonies.. ' A meeting of the ■ Rand Labour Party passed a resolution urging that the Flag Bill should be dropped ,as it was causing a break.up of the parry. t The political situation continues to cause the gravest anxiety. To.day’s G'overnment organ says; “Evrythtng points to the Governor-General, the Earl of Athlone, being relieved of his functions as British Ambassador and of these' being entrusted to an official who will act as diplomatic represen. tative of the United Kingdom in South Africa. „ “The absurdities of a system which relies on an out-of.date conception of dominion status ,and which was exposed by the Canadian incident, have brought the whole Constitutional position and the competence of the Governor. General under review. These absurdities,” declares the paper Die Burger, “are an additional argument for the declaration of dominion rights as desired by General Hertzogy 1 ■ The paper insists that the Govern. or-General should be appointed solely on the recommendation of the Union Government, and sees no reason for going overseas for such an official. Finally, the paper suggests that the Governor-General should be placed on a basis of equality with the King, and should be the representative of the Crown and not of the British Government.