SOUTH AFRICA.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 September 1919, Page 12

SOUTH AFRICA.

HIGH IDEALS OUTLINED. DUTY OF THE EMPIRE. The high ideals of the late General Ilotha, are clearly shown in his final interview with a press representative just prior to his return to South Africa from i-iighuid and not long before his death. "Xow that the Peace Treaty is signed," faid the distinguished soldier and stateswan, "I must return by the first available steamer to .South Africa, where my responsibility, my duty, and my future lie. But I cannot do so without expressing the sense of my indebtedness to the Government and the people of this country. On every hand, from the Primo Minister downwards, and in all quarters, I have found predominant a spirit of co-operation and of sympathy for South Africa that fills me with encouragement and hope. I return to .SoutK Africa happy in the knowledge that my native land emerges from this terrible conflict with its status raised and its destiny assured. I carry away with ine also the conviction that, of ail the peoples in the alliance, the peoples of the British Empire have played the greatest part. "As Britain led the war, so she has led the peace, and we look to her to secure its just fulfilment. Ido not intend to agree with all the peace terms. Who does? But I would say to the Germans: 'Show by your conduct that you intend to carry out the terms in the spirit and in the letter, and you will find salvation Evasion and shiftin.ess will not he tolerated, but in honesty of purpose and of fulfilment may repose i your relief.' "While we all lift up our hearts in thankfulness that the nightmare of the last five years is past, let us remember that with the victors rests the supreme gift of mercy. Should Germany in tne near future produce evidence of a changed heart and a contrite spirit, it should be the privilege of Britain, just as she has led in war, also to lead in the mercy of peace The peace m.ust not be marred by vengeance. "Vengeance is Mine, saith the Lord; I will repay.' Let us be content to leave vengeance where it belongs, in a Higher Hand, and let it be our great privilege to show mercy to a vanquished ensmy if he in turn shows himself truly prepared by deed, rather than by word, to confess his faults and to bring forth fruits meet for repentance. "I »o back to South Africa more firmly convinced than ever that the mission of the British Empire now and in the time to come lies along the path of freedom and high ideals! Britain is the corner-stone upon which our civilisation must rest. It largely depends upon her action and her spirit whether the newborn League of Nations will be a success or not. The essence of the League of Nations lies in the'ideal brotherhood, in making this world a better place to livo in I.n the league the British Empire will play the part of the big brother and continue its historic role of protector of the weak."

Recent messages from South Africa show that the policy of stringent measures against Indian;; domiciled in the Union, which found expression in very drastic measures just before the war, is being relentlessly pursued, and gives point to the remonstrance made by the Secretary for India (Mr E. S. Montagu) when presenting the India Budget in the House of Commons a few days ago. There can be little doubt that the antiAsiatic policy of South Africa in particular is one of the underlying causes of recent disturbances throughout northern India, and it is significant that leading Indians from South Africa, Mr Gandhi and others, were prominent in connection with the disturbances;. Before the war 122,000 Indians were included in the population of 'South Africa, mostly in Natal, and it was eontended that under the climatic conditions prevailing their, presence as a labor force was essental to the well-being of the province. Before'the Union each colony had its own policy towards Asiatics. They were barred absolutely from Orange Free State. Natal allowed residence on payment of an annual tax of £3. Cape Colony gave free access, and the Transvaal gave access under certain restrictions. Trouble of a serious kind first arose in 1908, following the pasdng in; 1907 of the Act referring solely to the Transvaal imposing drastic immigration restrictions and a finger-print method of registration, which, owing to its criminal associatons, was deeply resented. Mr Gandhi, an Indian lawyer of considerable legal reputation, took a leading part in the movement hostile to these regulations, and his activities brought him in conflict with the Transvaal Government. He was imprisoned for two months early in 1908. The Act of Union was consummated in 1909, but up to 1911 there was a policy of passive re-' fistancc on the part of Indians in the Transvaal against the regulations. After the Union a conference was arranged, at which General Smuts and Mr Gandhi represented the conflicting interests, and a settlement was arrived at on terms very favorable to the Indian residents, and allowing immigration under certain restrictions. Legislation on the lines of the Smuts-Gandhi settlement Was persistently obstructed, and when the Asi-' a tie Act of 1913 reached the Statute Book it was found to be at serious variance with the compact. Legal disabilities were inflicted, Asiatics; were declared to bo economically undesirable immigrants, rights previously enjoyed in Natal were taken away, and (lie seeds were laid for future conflict which, indeed, was in full swing when the war caused a. suspension of these internecine hostilities. Now that the war is over the situation seems; to be developing rapidly, and a problem is being created which may call, as Mr Montagu has hinted, for action at the hands of the League of Nations.