A Renter message in the papers of Monday described a
demonstration at Pretoria in support of General Hertzog, whom General Botha lately removed from his Cabinet owing to his anti-Imperial speeches. General de Wet, the principal speaker, said that General Hertzog must be brought back to office, as he had been the only Minister in the Cabinet who represented the people fully. The policy of the Government was to supply your neighbour first and then yourself. He himself was very loyal to the Empire, but this did not mean that he would take off his coat to give it to an Englishman. The Dutch should not hand over their nationality. The demonstration seems to have been rather informal, as General de Wet spoke from a manure heap. He remarked that he preferred to be among his own people on a manure heap than on the most brilliant platform among foreigners. The demon- strators afterwards went to General Hertzog's house. General Hertzog declared that he would never help a. movement for a split in the party. If the Empire should ever require men to stand by it, he and his friends would be in their places. All this seems satisfactory enough, yet General Botha would not have got rid of so able a man as General Hertzog if be had not sincerely believed that his influence was unfavourable to racial conciliation.
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