The South African Protectorates General Hertzog's announcement that he intends
to raise the question of the absorption into the Union of South Africa of the three British protectorates of Swazi- land, Bechuanaland and Basutoland remains an announce- ment still, and if the South African Prime Minister is wise it will be left at that. Mr. Thomas has been studiously correct in his replies to questions in the House of Com- mons, 13ut his statements have made it perfectly clear what the general attitude of the Government is. That the natives of the three protectorates are unanimous in wishing to remain outside the Union is common know- ledge, and the fact that among their chiefs are men of the calibre of Tshekedi, who figured in the Bechuanaland episode last year, is proof that they are fully capable of knowing where their interests lie. The few white men in the protectorates show no desire for a change of status. There is a certain anomaly in the existence of these three enclaves under the jurisdiction of Whitehall, in the middle of Union territory, and the present position will not necessarily last for ever. But before it is changed the Union Government will have, by the treatment of the natives within its own borders, to provide convincing demonstration that the Protectorate natives would run no risk whatever in becoming Union subjects. It would be a pity for the Dominions Secretary to have to point that out officially.
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