General Smuts' appeal for the formation of a new moderate party in South Africa with a view to maintaining the Constitution and combating the movement for the secession of South Africa from the pire is undoubtedly a very er, move. of which great things may be hoped. The South African Parliament at present consists of four sections, T.abourites, Nationalists, South African Party (loyal Dutch) and Unionists. The latter have always tried to work in with the loyal Dutch. But the Nationalists, though never strong enough to gain complete ascendancy, have Yet been able to obstruct most annoyingly. A few months ago they combined with the Labourites in a vote of censure on the Government. But the aims of the two parties are too utterly dissimilar (the Nationalists standing for a purely Dutch South Africa and everybody else excluded) for a permanent alliance. General Smuts' new party will not only combine all loyal! Dutch and Vnionists, but, should undoubtedly attract to itself the less extreme members of other factions, thus giving the pro-Empire party a sec tire majority. Tt only remains to be said that the Dutch have absolute independence and control in South Afri The Nationalists could get nothing more by the Republic they preach than they already have. except the name.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.