AFRIKANDER AIMS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 November 1940, Page 5

AFRIKANDER AIMS

ALLEGEDLY SUBVERSIVE BODY / DEFENDED BY DR. MALAN. BIG MEMBERSHIP CLAIMED. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) CAPE TOWN, October 31. Despite the fact that the affairs of the so-called cultural organisation Ossewabrandwag, meaning the way of the ox, are the subject of court cases, men being charged with subversive activities, Dr Malan, addressing the Cape Nationalist Congress, declared that it deserved support and had concluded an agreement stipulating co-op-eration affecting the supreme interests of Afrikanders.

Referring to the prosecutions, he said the members were the- victims of a base espionage campaign. Congress cheered when he announced that if the organisation were suppressed it would resort to a campaign of passive disobedience, to which he promised full support. It was disclosed in court that the organisation numbers 160,000. General Hertzog’s programme sets out the principles for a Free State and the nationalists’ the outlines of a republic to be achieved along constitutional lines and national unity. WILD TALK AT SECRET CONGRESS IN PRETORIA. THREAT TO GENERAL SMUTS. Statements that the Handhawersbond was the “political police of the Afrikander people”; that the Bond was waiting for “the psychological moment —when Germany puts her foot in England”; and that General Smuts would be given 48 hours in which to “resign and hand over the government”; were made at the secret congress of the Handhawersbond at Pretoria on August 17, the Johannesburg “Star” reported recently. According to the same newspaper, statements made at the secret congress included the following: “We are finished with democracy and a Jewish system of Government. We demand a President with the powers of a Hitler. If things do not go as we expect in Europe, and if we must remain within the British Commonwealth, we demand that the reins of Government be taken over- by the Handhawersbond. The Handhawersbond stands for action, and is sufficiently organised for the purpose. We await only the psychological moment—when Germany puts her foot in England. The War Council must study events carefully and see what should be done instantly—‘Today and not tomorrow’.” “The moment we hear that the Germans are there we must saddle up and be ready. Then we shall give General Smuts 48 hours in which to resign and hand over the Government. And when these 48 hours have passed by we shall know how to act. We must then take over every small town as well as every city. “Our trouble is that we have too many Afrikanders here who are timid. In the Handhawersbond we want only the bulls who are not afraid. We want to play the role of policemen in politics and in this way get control of the Government. We have finished with a rotten democratic form of Government. Nationalism has permeated every country in Europe except England, and her turn is soon coming. We Handhawers have determined that this shall happen in this country also. We have decided to act drastically.” STIRRING APPEAL MADE BY SOUTH AFRICAN , PREMIER. WAR DRAWING NEARER. LONDON, October 31. In a stirring appeal to South Africa, the Prime Minister, General Smuts, tonight gave a reminder that the war was drawing steadily nearer to the frontiers of South Africa. He said that Italy’s invasion of Greece had shown disregard for neutrality and callousness for the rights of small nations. It also showed that there was still no safety in neutrality. Recent developments in the European war indicated more strongly than ever that South Africa would soon become a battlefield in the great struggle. The 8.8. C. reports that General Smuts is visiting South African troops in East Africa.