AFRICAN AFFAIRS

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 23 June 1917, Page 6

AFRICAN AFFAIRS

REPUBLICANISM. • ____, SOUTH AFRICAN MOVEMENT. BOTHA'S CONDEMNATION. LONDON, June 20. The "Standard's" Capetown correspondent states that the House of Assembly "was crowded when Sir. J. X. Merriman (Premier of Cape Colony) moved that the efforts to carry on a republican propaganda will inevitably lead to fatal dissensions, and the ultimate ruin of the European races in South Africa. He described efforts to divide the two white races as the Devil's work. Mr Dewtad moved an amendment regretting that there should be an impression that the people's natural aspirations regarding independence were disloyal and unlawful. Mr. J. N Cresswell (Labour leader) supported Sir John Merriman. The workers would be filled with alarm at the possibility of South-west Africa reverting to Germany. He could not contemplate with equanimity the re-estab-lishment of German power on their borders, Nationalists talked about a Tepublic; he asked how long would its freedom last if at the mercy of a German Black African Empire Labourites would continue to support the Government's war policy. General Botha emphasised that Britain since granting the Constitution, had never on a single occasion interfered with South Africa. The great majority did not want civil war. He asked whether the nlinority was going to force it? General Hertzog contended that there was nothing in the Constitution to preclude him conducting a pro-republican propaganda. South Africa had not yet received freedom. He was theoretically a republican, but did not advocate a republic to-day. He realised that there was no hope until all sections asked Britain for independence.