⁨⁨The Palestine Post⁩, 8 ספטמבר 1939⁩ — South A frican Union Cabinet Declares War on Germany [⁨כתבה⁩]

South A frican Union Cabinet Declares War on Germany

SMUTS AND HERTZOG AT LOGGERHEADS

CAPETOWN , Thursday ( R ) . — Differences between General Jan Smuts and General J . B . M . Hertzog , the two leading figures in South Africa , have become accentuated as a result of the * announcement by the new Union Cabinet that war has been declared against Germany . Arrangements are being made for the diplomatic representatives in each country to be withdrawn . General Smuts made a statement last night amplifying the Government s policy towards the European conflict . He said that the Union s participation must necessarily be limited by considerations of geography , and the special conditions attaching to their country . Their primary duty was to place their own de > - fence in the highest state of efficiency , in order to render the Union safe against any inroads . Clearly , at this stage , the Government could not give encouragement to citizens who wished to serve overseas . It is for the Union to give physical support in all questions of trade and shipping and finance . The Union would maintain in its fulest sense the Simonstown agreement : o ensure the free entry of British

warships , and the defences of Simonstown . It is only by pursuing such E policy that the Union will be able tc secure the necessary protection for th € conveyance of agricultural products from markets overseas . General Smuts added that , in common with her alliesthe Union had no - quar , rel with the German people . Her aim was to assist in the _destruction of a - sys tem which was seeking to impose on the world the domination of violence . General Hertzog issued a statement declaring that the Union had been drawn into a war for no Europeran other reason than that England had declared war on for motives Germany which did not , 1 involve , even indirectly , the subordinate interests of South Africa . General Smuts , he declared , had irrevocably split the United Party and _debased the freedom of the nation . TRAIN services between Rome and Paris are to be resumed from today . The Orient train will now travel on to Paris instead of halting at Milan as hitherto . The services with Switzerland have been partially resumed for some days . The Belgium-England 1 air lines are also to resume after a week s suspension .