Today is the anniversary of the union of Cape Colony, the Orange Free State an the Transvaal one commonwealth, that union being effected on May 31, 1910. The date has now come to be regarded as the national day of the commonwealth and will be duly celebra ed by South Africans residing in Shanghai, of whom there are somewhat over twenty. In Drevious years the occasion has been marked by a dinner, but owing to the circumstances this has been abandoned in favour of a qu celebration in the shape of a private gathering is Impossible for Britons not to sympathize with their fellow subjects in the celebration of their national days and to those local Soutly Africans to whom this occasion means so much the usual hearty congratulations are extended. The development of British policy in South Africa after the Boer War was one of the utmost liberality, and, while at first it was severely -erilicised, events ultimately proved it wisdom, and there Is no dominion more loyal to the British Empire than South Africa. One of the most interesting features of the develop: ment of relations between South Africa and Great Britain lies in the fact that for two years running South Africa has proved to be Great Britain's best customer in the world. For much longer period Great Britain has occupied the same role vis-a-vis of South Africa, but 1937 the latter purchased from Great' Britain £41,500.000 worth of goods, the next best, Indi Ibeing £2,400,000 behind, Mere trade relationships are not the (rue test of the loyalty of any section fof the British Commonwealth to the whole. bu humanity being as it where the money is there follows the heart, and the success of British policies in South Afri some three decades ago has resulted in the creation of bonds which, no matter now lightly they lie on either party; bind Britain and South Africa ver closely together.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.