Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-07-21

| LONDON-AS the lTlSl pedCe Gull
| ference between Eamonn de Valera
and Premier David Lloyd George
progresses. every eye is focused on
| General Jan Christian SHUTS, pre-
| mier of the Union of South Africa.
If the conference succeeds in
bringing peace to Ireland, it will be
General SHUTS that Ireland and the
British empire will have to thank.
And some are talking seriously of
making him premier of Great Brit
ain.
The South African premier can
understand the viewpoint of DE
Valera and the Irish revolutionists.
Because less than 20 years ago he
was a revolutionist himself. He was
a leader in the Boer war and it was
through no fault of his that the war
ended in a British victory.
Sees Other Side
And he is equally able to under
stand the viewpoint of Lloyd George
and those who want to keep the
British empire intact.
Because since the defeat of the
| Beers, SHUTS has been a staunch
| supporter of the British and often
declares that with the exception of
| his own country, South Africa, he
| lONto tllC LlAtAolA SiiPt sNe
anything else in the world.
! THAT'S why every observer here
4, SHUTS is the most logical
inter-. to settle the wrangle
| between Brlu.. and Ireland. :
Putting over a peace agreement
will not be a new thing for SHUTS.
| He's a skilful and experienced poll
teal engineer.
His first big political achievement
was when he helped to cement to-
| gether the various South African
| states into the Union of South
| Africa shortly after the Boer war.
Then, after the World War, he
compiled the principles that are the
foundation of the present League of
Nations. AS a testimonial to his
work, the general secretaryship of
the League of Nations was offered
to him. He declined.
With equal ease, General SHUTS
can hoe a garden. try a lawsuit, cook
a meal, command an army, tend cat
tie, frame a treaty, play with chill
dren. read Greek literature in the
original, debate in parliament or
treat sick cattle.
The Irish peacemaker refers to
himself as the best hated man in
South Africa" There he is affec-
tionately called Jamie"
Witty and Cynical
Though of Dutch birth. he lacks
the heaviness of temperament and
stolidness that are characteristic of
the Teuton. He is of light tempera-
ment, witty, intellectual, a little Gym
ical.
Despite the triumphs of his states
manship. he is not politically amb1-
tious. He serves for the sake of
serving and because he really has at
heart the future of the British en-
pire.
He dresses plainly. When going
about London, he wears simple
civilian clothes rather than the trap,
pings Of a British lieutenant general
which he is privileged to wear.
His ~fayorite diversion is reading
in his well stocked library at his
South African home. When he has
given to his country all the service
he can he will retire to the qu1et
of his estate, he tells friends.
He is-known as a tireless worker.
From morning to night, he wades
through stacks of official documents,
confidential dispatches and reports.
He rarely takes a holiday, and a
vacation-never.
SHUTS abhors social life. His dis
like of receptions and other func-
tions is shared by Mrs. SHUTS, a
plain Dutch housewife. Wives OF
high British dignitaries In South
Africa never can seem to find Mrs.
SHUTS at home.
SHUTS has a wide range of infor-
nation and a firm grasp of world
problems. He is at ease in discus,
sing American constitutional govern
ment and classical Greek literature
the Upper Silesian question n the
latest methods of intensive farming.
The South African statesman IS
comparatively a young man. He's
so. He was born on a farm within
so miles of Capetown, South Africa.
Until young SHUTS was II. his
only teachers were fowls and cattle.
He spent the days herding geese,
cows. sheep and horses.
On the big South African farm
which was not much different from
the ranches of the western United