'Thomas, in the House of Commons today, stated that he had received no communication from His Majesty's Government in the Union of South Africa, containing Gen. J. MB. Hertzog's statement in' the Union Parliament, in reference to the tran: ference to the Union of British prorectorates in South Africa—Bechuana-Yand, Swaziland and Basutoland. In view of press reports, however, be thought it convenient to state the bosition of His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom.
He recalled the pledges given when the South Africa Bill was before the House of Commons in 1908, and on ter occasions, on behalf of the governments in 1919 and 1925, that the House of Commons would' have the fullest opportunity of discussing, and, they wished, of disapproving of any proposed transfer of these territories to the Union. In the House of Lords in 1925, it was also stated that the government would not make any decision until the native population and the white population had full opportunity of expressing their views, and any" representations which _either might make would receive the most careful consideration, before the government came to any final decision, Mr, Thomas added that these pledges were repeated on behalf of the present government, both by himself in the House of Commons and also in: the House of Lords in July last. "Copies of them were communicated to Gen. J. B. Smuts while was in England last year.
Possibilities of an inter-Imperial controversy was opened by the announcement made a few days ago in the South African Parliament by Gen. Hertzog, that the government proposed to send a Note to Great Britain Urging the immediate transference of the native Protectorates to the Union of South Africa, Advocates of the change maintain that the British Government has failed to develop the Protectorates, have been left in a backward but" the natives themselves, however, are strongly opposed to the transference. "Opposition tothe change is likely to be offered in ct tain quarters in Great Britain—Reuter and Wireless.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.