SOUTH AFRICAN UNION.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 April 1922, Page 5

SOUTH AFRICAN UNION.

INCLUSION OF RHODESIA. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Capetown, April 3. A Rhodesian delegation, consisting of five members of the Pro-Union Party and five of the Responsible Government Party, with Sir Drummond Chaplin (Administrator) as chairman, met General Smuts this morning to discuss the terms on which Rhodesia would enter the Union, which, in accordance with Mr. Churchill’s stipulation, must be included in the. referendum on the new constitution.

General Smuts, welcoming the delegation, said it was advisable to follow the procedure of the National Convention at the time of the Union round table conference, no set speeches, the frankest and freest interchange of views, and no formal resolutions. After such discussion it would be necessary for the Union Government to formulate the terms and conditions which it was willing to propose to Rhodesia, which would probably require consideration by the Chartered Company. These terms would be left entirely, without any attempt to influence them by the Union. Replying to a question by Mr. Hertzog in the Assembly, whether the people of the Union would be consulted on the terms of incorporation of Rhodesia, General Smuts said that if the question meant a referendum or general election such was not the intention of the Government. The present conference was the result of a request by Rhodesia, but should it result in the acceptance of the terms the Government proposed to follow the course laid down in the Act of Union, providing for incorporation as a result of an address to the King adopted by both Houses.