The complete returns of the South African General Election, apart
from -two vacant seats-, gave the Smith African Party-40 seats, the Unionists 25,,Labourd10 and-theNationalists 43, with three Independent Members friendly- -to the Government. An attempt to form a Dutch ratial coalition between the South Afritan Party and-the Nationalists failed, because -some of the • Ilationalists-deelined to temporize in regard to their Republican -programme. General-Smuts, decided to remain in office, and in 'the Kings Speech ore -Friday 'week he proposed a long series of construetive measures. Among -them was a Bill to -set up a Native CoMmission with Advisery Councils of natives elected by their own,people. General Stunts is at the head of a party Cabinet, depending-for-its exieteriee on the more or less friendly and informal co.-operation-ofEtwo other parties. But his position is not so unstable as- itleoless--irtaiimuth as no other party could fornr a Ministry -with any -hope of success.
The American Senate on Friday week failed for the second time to ratify the German Peace Treaty, with. certain reservations. Twenty-eight Republicans and twenty-one Democrats voted for the Treaty ; twelve Republicans and twenty-three Democrats voted -against it. As two-thirds of -the Senators present must concur -for the ratification to be effective, the Treaty was not approved. It is understood Vast' the Covenant, which is almost the only stumbling-block,- will now become the chief issue in the Preeidential Election: 'campaign- of the slimmer- and autumn. America's help in the settlement of the Near -East and in the handling of • the Russian problem -would have been of pricelesa value, but the Allies must apparently depend on their own efforts for the time being. We may add that the- politicians, in referring the Covenant to the people, have at any rate given America an opportunity of making -up her mind- in regard to the League of Nations. The future emirs° • of international polity will depend on her decision.
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