A SPECTATOR'S NOTEBOOK
NOTHING could be more perverse than for persons, of whom there are many (myself included) who dissent strongly from South Africa's native policy to protest against the King's decision to enjoy a few weeks of sunshine in that climatically favoured Dominion. The Crown knows no politics. King George is King of South Africa, as he is King of Canada. That may not always be so, but it is so at present, and the visit of the King and Queen and Princess Margaret, even a quite private visit, is much more likely to retard than to accelerate any tendency towards change. In this.context Dr. Malan is not the author of the apartheid policy; he is simply the Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa. And Botha House no more belongs to him than Chequers belongs to Mr. Churchill, or for that matter the White House to President Truman. It was occupied by General Smuts when he held the Premiership, and no doubt in due time it will be occupied by an Anti-Nationalist Prime Minister again. King George's temporary residence there will add a notable chapter to its history—and undoubtedly have other beneficial effects besides that.
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