Botha's Reply.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 39, 16 February 1914, Page 5

Botha's Reply.

"WAR AGAINST SOCIETY." CASE OF THE DEPORTEDS. [By Electric Teleguaph—Copyright] [United Press Association.] Capetown, February 14. General Botha, in a two hours' speech, said the grievances were simply an excuse to create a revolution. The deporteds were not the only generals of the revolution. Some wore sitting in the House now. He caustically attacked the Labor members and General Hertzog. The Johannesburg Volcano. General Botha, who spoke in the Dutch language, was repeatedly cheered. He described the July sth outbreak as war against society, against innocent women and children, and a murderous assault upon the people's liberties. The condition of Johannesburg on the fifth was that of a volcano. He had seen many tragedies in war, but the situation at Johannesburg was more terrible than all. Had the Government not made a compact with the strikers, mortifying though it was, the consequences would have been more terrific''than anything in South Africa's history. With a quarter-of-a-n»illion natives breaking out and the fire of anarchy everywhere, thousands of lives would have been lost and millions worth of damage done. Referring to Mr Merriman's strictures, lie contended the deportations were the result of the most careful consideration of days and days. The action was no frivolous resolution of a moment's notice. The Government was wholly responsible for the deportations. Lord Gladstone had nothing to do therewith. The bulk of the men in the mines and on the railways were excellent men, and the Government's duty was to make their lot as satisfactory as possible. This should be secured constitutionally, but in the present instance terrorists got the upper hand of a majority who did not desire to strike. "Sworn Enemies of Socioty." General Botha contended that it ivould have been a bad day for South Africa if. the deportations had not 'ieen carried out. He was firmly convinced the Labor leaders never desired ,\ settlement of their grievances. They ivere simply sworn enemies of society, hie was especially struck with their desire at one stage of the negotiations to eliminate the term "owner," apparently because they desired no ownership. General Botha commented that to South African farmers it was the Government's duty to expel those who were menacing South Africa's veil-being. He was confident Parliament would approve. The great black ind colored population must be remembered, and unless the whites took i step to prevent a recurrence of the recent events, the position would be jxtremely difficult. Martial Law Upheld. Mr Jagger, Oppositionist, supported die Government in declaring martial .aw, but strongly condemned tho deportations, as the vilest criminals were entitled to trial. A Leader's Advice to Natives. General Botha quoted an article by John Dube, an educated leader of the natives of Natal, who in June wrote to all the chiefs in South Africa exuorting them not to pay the taxes and tot <ko allow the natives to work for .vhites in Johannesburg, arguing that x strike would enable them to extort 'vhat they wanted from the Governaient and employers. Ho stigmatised as scoundrels those coming to negotiate with the Government with revolvers in their pockets, and then joastiug on public platforms of their cowardly actions. Dealing with Hertzog and Merriman. Referring to Hertzog he asked why he had not come to the Government's assistance in July, when he was .ashamed in his own Congress in Orangia to utter a word of condemnation regarding the outrages. True patriots would have volunteered their assistance. General Botha said he was unable to understand Mr Merriman's reasoning. He used language without (considering its effect, especially abroad. He cited Mr Ramsay MacDouald's quoting of Mr Merriman's allegation that there was remarkably slender evidence of conspiracy. From this General Botha dissented. The Most Convenient Destination. General Botha proceeded to say he could have banished the syndicalists to any part of the habitable globe, but the Umgeni was the only ship available. England was the most convenient destination. He declined to contemplate England sending back the deporteds. After justifying martial law on the ground that it averted bloodshed and frustrated the gravest attack ever made on the nation, General Botha concluded by asking whether it was better to imperil many lives or banish nine men. NO RIGHT TO INTERFERE. i (Received 10.45 a.m.) Melbourne, February 16. Mr Fisher, Premier, in the Assembly, said he hoped that the time would never come when Australia would deport men without trial. He r.greed with Mr Harcourt that in whatever Dominion the offender was, it was not for the Mother Country to interfere. A REQUEST DECLINED. (Received 10.45 a.m.) Sydney, February IG. Mr Cook (Prime Minister) refused

to send to Mr Harcourt (Colon;? 1 Secretary) a number of petitions from industrial unions asking the Imperial Government to restrain South Africa from carrying out the deportations of strike leaders. WATCHING FOR THE UMCENI. (Received 9.20 a.rr.) London, February 15. The Ulster leador of the Labor Party contemplated hiring a tug to meet the Umgeni, but the uncertainty of her port of arrival is likely to frustrate the idea.