SOUTH AFRICA.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 September 1919, Page 5

SOUTH AFRICA.

THE MANDATE BILL. A CHALLENGE TO HERTZOG. By Telegraph,—Press Assn.—Copyright. Capetown, Sept. 13. The conclusion of the debate on the Mandate Bill was marked by a striking passage between General Smuts and Mr. Hertzog. Referring to a previous declaration by the Nationalist member that the Nationalists would abandon their agitation on the restoration of the old republics, General Smuts challenged Mr. Hertzog to say whether it was the policy of h'm party to work for the secession from the British Empire of the Union as a whole. Mr. Hertzog replied evasively that it was a matter for the Nationalist Party Congress to decide. General Smuts, continuing, said the question was whether the Union had the ■right to secede. Mr. Hertzog. interrupting, queried "Yes or No?" General Smuts answered: "My reply is absolutely 'No!'" Referring to the question of the veto he said that in ordinary law there was on such thing as a veto, but it was the duty of the King to veto any law under which the Union might secede from the Empire, therefore secession was impossible constitutionally, and only possible by revolution. SENATE RATIFIES PEACE TREATY.

Received Sept. 16, 1.30 a.m. Capetown, Sept. 13. The Senate ratified the treaty by 30 votes to s.—Reuter.