SOUTH AFRICA.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 June 1919, Page 5

SOUTH AFRICA.

m DISRUPTION ALLOWED,

KEPLY TO DUTCH NATIONALISTS.

By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Pretoria, June 10. The lobby correspondent of the Volksteim (a Government organ) gives circumstantial details of the interview of the Nationalist deputation with Mr. Lloyd George. President Wilson declined to grant an interview. Mr. Hertzog, as spokesman, claimed the restitution of the independence of the Free State aaid Transvaal. A a regards Natal and the Cape ho ibased his claim on Nationalist resolutions and the principle of selfdetermination-

Mr. Lloyd George replied in writing thai he absolutely declined to entertain the request for the disruption of the Union, which was founded on a solemn covenant and could not be broken even if the entire Dutch-Bpeaking population, demanded it.

NATIVE GRIEVANCES. PREMIER URGES PATIENCE. Capetown, June 10. A deputation from the African Political Organisation interviewed the actingPremier and represented the grievances of the colored population. The deputation complained particularly of the conditions in the Free State, which -was described as a slave State. It also complained of the prohibition of colored representatives sitting in, Parliament and declared that serious discontent was prevalent among the colored people. The Premier urged patience. He believed the Native Administration Bill, which would shortly be again before Parliament, would provide the germ of a solution. A conference would also shortly deal with, the colored labor question. •

NATIONAL ARCTIC EXPEDITION.

Capetown, June 10. The promoters of the South African National Antarctic Expedition have issued a statement that the object is to explore, in the interests of science, the sector immediately south of South Africa. The expedition will be constituted entirely of South Africans. It is hoped to sail in November, 1920, and return in April, 1923. The various universities have been invited to nominate scientists to accompany the expedition. The cost of the expedition is estimated at £200,000. The task of raising the sum has been placed in the hands of a committee and the Government has been asked to nominate a representative.

NEW DIAMOND FIELD.

Pretoria, June 10. According to reports from Bloemfontein a promising diamond discovery is reported from the Rouxville district, The largest stone found weighs 80 carats.