For ourselves, we shall make no apology for saying tha
we earnestly hope that it may be found possible for the Union Government to spare the life of General De Wet. It is not a matter on which the Imperial Government can dictate to the Union, but we feel sure that no one in England or in the rest of the Empire would feel anything but satisfaction if the South African Government are able to forgo the death penalty. Had General Beyers lived, his case would have been entirely different, for he held office under the Union and was a traitor not merely in the technical but in the real sense. General Botha strikes the right note when he says that the vast mass of the people of South Africa who remained loyal have converted "a grave danger to our Union into a means of cementing and estab- lishing it more firmly." We should like to add that all the evidence shows that General Botha has lost nothing of his skill as a general. If he is not careful he may find that, after be has dealt with the German force in South-West, Africa which is now attempting to invade the Union, we shall com- mandeer him for military work in Europe.
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