Evening star., 1933-01-01
Britain Gets News From
Canada and South Africa
By A. G. GARDINER.

LONDON, December 31.--The intense
quiet which usually descends upon the
British political scene at this season has
this year been broken by news from two
separate parts Of the enptre--concern-
ing the Canadian trade negotiations
with Soviet Russia and the financial
crisis in South Africa.
These events. although in themselves
Of minor Importance from an tntsrna-
tional point Of view, have a significance
for imperial politics In the large which
Is by no means negligible.
The news from Canada was cor1fus-
ing in the extreme. On the one hand
1t was reported from authoritative
sources that an agreement was on tbs
point Of being completed between Cam
ada and Russia on the direct exchange
Of produce. On the other hand. this
was denied with equal emphasis by Pre-
mier Bennett, who IS now returning
from visit TO this country.
\ - \ S
When ministers in the same cabinet
disagree it Is not easy for outsiders to
be sure Of the facts. One thing, how
ever, Is reasonably certain. Negotia-
tions OF some sort are proceeding be-
tween the two countries. This has o
peculiar significance for Great Britain,
for less than six months ago, under
pressure from Canadian representatives
at the Ottawa Economic Conference,
Britain was forced to terminate her
trade agreement with Russia on the
ground that Russian trade was inimical
to the prosperity of the empire.
Until further details of the present
negotiations are made public, it Is diff
cult to assess the exact measure of in
consistency Of the Canadian govern
ment. Meanwhile observers in this
country who felt that the unanimity at
Ottawa rested on an extremely insecure
basis have received ample confirmation
OF their suspicious, and the process OF
disillusionment among members of the
general public Is likely to be accele-
rated.
The reports from South Africa were
scarcely less confusing. The oxtgin of
the trouble there is to be found In the
decision Of Judge Tielman Roos,
hitherto q prominent supporter Of Pre-
mier Hertzog and the Nationalist party,
to resign his post in the judiciary and
lead o movement In favor Of abandon
ment Of the gold standard and cooper
alton with the opposition party.
The position OF Hertzog's government
has been precarious for some time past.
1t was believed that Roos' action would
lead to its overthrow and to Q policy
Of deyaluation. Hence there seems to
have erlsued rush of Withdrawals of
gold from the banks. so severe as to
bring about change of the policy
which the Withdrawals were designed
to anticipate. On Monday the South
African government relieved the banks
OF the obligation to cash notes In gold.
The South African government de-
layed announcement OF its monetary
policy until Thursday, when 1t was ON
cially announced that it had aban-
doned the gold standard. Some OBJ
servers believe that union with
sterling is in contemplation.
South Africas trade balance Is bet
ter now than 1t was q few months ago.
1t is not clear why, even when on the
gold basis, the South Africans pound
should fall to a substantial discount
from gold parity il it Is left to itself.
In any case, the disposition of the South
step with London Is not TO be exagger-
ated.
The real significance of the crisis In
South Africa is to be found in another
direction. The decision of Judge Roos,
hitherto a stanch Nationalist indi-
Gates the end of the movement for e..
cession from the British Empire. Ever
since the advent to power of Gen.
Hertzog the strength of the movement
has been gradually waning.
That so sensitive an observer of the
currents of Dutch feeling as Judge
Roos should venture TO stake his whole
political future on the break-up of the
Nationalist party shows that it is COM
pletely dead. Hence, though the moye-
ment for imperial economic co-opera-
tion is not necessarily strengthened by
the event In South Africa, the ten.
dency toward political disintegration in
this quarter Is for the time being at a
;tandstill.
Copyright. 1897