FREAK PARTY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 November 1940, Page 5

FREAK PARTY

SMASHED IN SOUTH AFRICA GENERAL HERTZOG’S TACTICS. AWAITING DEVELOPMENTS. (By Telegraph—Pi-css Association—Copyright) LONDON, November 7. General Hertzog’s resignation from the leadership of the Orange Free Slate reunited Nationalist Party means a break with the re-united party throughout South Africa, thereby smashing the party after 14 months of existence.

The Bloemfontein correspondent of “The Times” says that constant intrigue against General Hertzog made his position untenable. The new party, as it was developing, was a freak with which General Hertzog was unable to identify himself. General Hertzog today made it clear that Dr. Malan, another Nationalist leader, would sooner or later be forced to leave the party. He added that his (Hertzog’s) followers would in the meantime not form a new party but would await developments and advised his followers to vote for the Smuts candidate in a forthcoming Parliamentary by-election. Referring to those thinking that Germany would rectify things in South Africa, he declared that anybody with the nation’s welfare at heart would not sacrifice it in this way. Germany would not safeguard South Africa’s independence more than any other nation. “During the period of uncertainty,” he said, ”we must rely on ourselves, not Germany.” He reiterated his respect for the English-speaking section of the population, and the necessity for co-operation with it.

The Johannesburg correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain says that the split in the reunited party gives the Smuts war effort new. impetus. General Hertzog admitted that tens of thousands of Afrikanders were following General Smuts. At the conference yesterday General Hertzog insisted on equal rights for both sections of the population, British and Afrikander, but the extremists won the day. “Within the party,” said General Hertzog, “there has been a conspiracy to oust me, and for the last 15 months my life has been made unbearable.” General Hertzog said months ago a whispering campaign had been started against Dr. Malan, who at the conference yesterday agreed with General Hertzog that if there was to be a republic it must be achieved constitutionally and not be based on a mere Parliamentary majority.

General Hertzog in a statement yesterday hinted that he might shortly be retiring from politics, and suggested that younger men should enter the field, the 8.8. C. reports.