"HENRY I. OF SOUTH AFRICA."

Shannon News, 9 October 1928, Page 2

"HENRY I. OF SOUTH AFRICA."

DEMAND FOR A NEW KING.

(Sun Special.) LONDON, Sept. 26,

A strange suggestion, that the Duke of Gloucester (Prince Henry) be made Governor-General of South Africa, and subsequently king of an independent South Africa, is made by the Pretoria newspaper "Ons Vaderland." There is, however, according to responsible sources, not the remotest likelihood, certainly within the near future of any of the King's sons being ap-pointi-'d Governors-General of the Dominions.

The thorny subject of Governorships is again being discussed, the discussion starting recently with the return on leave of the Earl of Athlone, GovernorGeneral of South Africa, and the Duke of Gloucester's journey to South Africa with the Prince of Wales, when some suggested that the Duke was" likely to succeed the Earl of Athlone. The position has now been brought to a head by a cable from South Africa to-day reporting that the newspaper "Ons Yaderland" understands "that General Hertzog (Prime Minister of South Africa), has indicated that unless a Prince of the blood royal should be willing to assume the Governor-General-ship of South Africa, a South African should be found for the post." NEEDLESS CHANGE. British Government circles, whos? onlv knowledge of General Hertzog's assertion is as cabled, made no statement beyond indicating that such an appointment is inconceivable. "It would be making a change that is not a change," said the Whitehall spokesman. However, there is little doubt that the British Government holds very conclusive views on the subject, which might be summed up' thus: "There is already a King of South Africa, and similarly of Australia, who' is King of the Dominions severally, as well as of Great Britain. This proves their equality and autonomy wdthin the Empire, as plainly laid down at the 1926 Imperial Conference." ~ THIN END OF WEDGE?

Actually, there ■is nothing in the Constitution to prevent a son becoming Governor-General, but it is entirely unnecessary, and furthermore impossible, for practical reasons. Nobody doubts that General Hertzog ti fully aware of this position, and it is interesting .to know what is the, real purpose of his statement. Is it only the beginning of a mow to have a South African as the next GovernorGeneral? This is at least possible. If so, then General Hertzog will have a problem similar to that which the Australian States had—he must convince Great Britain that the South. African people desire a local Governor-General.