* * * The South African Protectorates . The'case for
immediate discussion with the• Government of the Union of South Africa regarding the transfer of the Protectorates to that Government is put at its highest in the three articles -which Mr. Lionel Curtis has this week contributed to The Times. Against full discussion nothing whatever can be said. Very much the contrary. It is, indeed, . essential for the British Government to know what • the position of the natives in the Protectorates under the Union Government would be, and for the Union Government to know what- the British Government thinks that in essentials it should be. But the publication of the report of the Select Committee on General Hertzog's native Bills has,frankly, not helped matters, for no British Government recognizing the responsibilities resting on it as trustee for the Protectorate natives could feel justified in bringing them within the scope of such legislation as is proposed in the Union. In any case the British Government is pledged to consult the natives themselves, and Mr. Curtis seems a little over-anxious to insist that though the natives' views must be sought they need not be followed. They are not, it is true, the only factor, but they must obviously carry great weight. Mr. Curtis is perfectly right in saying that this country has no title to sit in judgement on South Africa's native policy, but it has both the title and the duty to assure itself, before it consents to a transfer, that under the future regime the Protectorate natives will receive at least as favourable treatment as they do at present.
* *
Previous page
