New-York tribune., 1922-07-30
Institute Told
Separate Flags
Bar Self Rule
Lionel Curtis Cites British
Experience in South AT.
rica TO Show How Real
Union Solved Problems
One Achievement of War
America Urged to Recognize
Elsewhere the Principle
II Makes Vital at Home

wrLLIAMsTOWN. Mass., July D.
Citing the results Of the South African
Union under the British system Of
sclf-goyerning commonwealths ~ an
excellent argument In favor Of the
union Of nations, Lionel Curtis, lee
turor Al oxford University and the
chief secretary Of the Irish Peace Con
ference. opened the second years
courses Of the Institute Of Politics to-
night. Mr. Curtis paid a high tribute
10 the tate Ford Bryce, whose sue
ccssor as British lecturer be is.
Declaring that the real lesson Of
tho South African Union is that the
separation Of parts Of country under
eeparato flags may make that country
incapablo OF sclf-rule. Mr. Curtis SAID.
"The essence Of the whole situation
was this-that the people Of sontn
Africa could never achieve the yerities
Of responsible government 20 long as
thoir country was divided under sep
arate flags. I will try 20 explain why
this was so. ~,
ITO begin with, the inland republics
wore entirely dependent for their i'm
ports on goods introduced through the
ports Of Capo Colony and Natal we
have now come 20 a-period when the
Governments Of both these colonies
were no longer controlled from Eng-
land but we're responsible % a Parlia-
ment and electorate Of their own. In
An domestic affairs their rights Of self
government were just az complete rs
those Of the republics. In a young
community customs is really the main
source Of the public revenue.
Clash Comes On Duties
"The inland republics justly claimed
their rights % the duties levied on the
goods they consumed. That claim was
denied by the Parliaments Of Cape
Colony and Natal. The accidents Of
geography made IL possible for the
self governing colonies on the coast %
tax the people Of the inland republics.
A deep resentment in the minds Of
those people was the natural result. A.
a matter Of fact the Dutch element con-
trolled the majority In the Cape. But
none the less the Beers in the two
republics associated the injustice with
British rule and turned their resent
ment against Great Britain.
you who have inscribed the stars
Of all your states on one big flag may
recognize the virtue Of applying that
principle 20 countries other than your
own.
ITO remove the obstacle 20 union
and 10 enable the people Of South
Africa 90 manage their own affairs
without the need OF interference from
Great Britain, was the real achieve
ment Of the war"
Declaring that after the war dis
union again appeared because the
South African states each exercised the
right 10 lay a separate tariff, Mr. Cur
lis continued:
"The evils Of the system were so
fragrant that after the war every one
was agreed that a remedy must be
found The obvious remedy was polit-
ical union. But every one agreed 20
think Of political union as something
which must be accomplished sooner or
later. but certainly not before the
time Of their grandchildren. As |
have tried 10 show you here, the divi-
giOns Of South Africa were the result
OF a long series Of accidents and mis-
takes. But almost every one seemed
20 cling TO them as IL they we're d.
vincly ordained.
Conservatism Balks Progress
Really you have 20 live in a new
country 20 realize what a terrific force
in human nature conservatism is, and
how intensely people will cling %
Thoroughly bad arrangements II only
they rank AS established institutions.
Rather than change a system which
was wrong in principle people were
prepared for any amount OF tinkering
with rs details In the hope Of avoid
ing union a number Of counterfeit sub
stitutcs were tried.
Before undertaking TO suggest q
remedy IL seemed more reasonable 20
try ard arrive at a diagnosis. SO while
the preparations for establishing re-
sponsible government were In train we
began TO study South African history
In the light OF our own recent eYneri-
ence and 10 visit tho other colonies
FOR the purpose. The conclusions at
which we arrived were those which /
have tried TO present 10 you to-day"