12 MAY 1950, Page 5

I have been sent from South Africa a copy of

a Republican con- stitution for South Africa published in 1942 " with the permission and on the authority " of the Nationalist leader, Dr. Malan, today President of the Union of South Africa. How far it reflects the Prime Minister's present ideas is matter for speculation, but it is not inconsistent with anything he has said so far. I can only note two points here. All persons settled within the bounds of the Republic are its subjects ; the White subjects will be called burgers ; only burgers can obtain the right to vote. Further: "The attitude of Whites over against non-Whites is being regulated in the spirit of Christian guardianship by the former over the latter." Three angels round my bed—Malan, Erasmus, Swart.