Fix this text
""Personal
Fix this textand Confidential
Fix this text168
Fix this textDumbarton House,
Fix this textCAPE TOWN
Fix this text4th May 1949.
Fix this textMy dear Bob.
Fix this textThis is really just a postscript to my letter
Fix this textwritten before the London Conference and I hope will given an
Fix this textidea of the first reactions in South Africa to the Declaration.
Fix this textSpeaking generally there are three bodies of
Fix this textopinion here.
Fix this textFirst of all there is the large body of opinion
Fix this textof which General Smuts is the most distinguished exponent. It
Fix this textincludes those supporters of the United Party, both English-
Fix this textand Afrikaans-speaking who are strongly Commonwealth minded and
Fix this texta number of adherents of the small Labour Party which is almost
Fix this textwholly English-speaking.
Fix this textYou will have seen the report of General Smutss
Fix this textspeech, the keynote of which was - "" I for one do not feel
Fix this textsatisfied that grave risks are not being run."" The new concept
Fix this textwas ""all very confusing in a matter in which clarity of language
Fix this textand fundamental concepts was essential. The clear and true
Fix this textcharacter of the Commonwealth was thus obscured and might
Fix this textdisappear in the mist of misleading verbiage.
Fix this textHe added that the only satisfactory feature was
Fix this textthe retention intact of allegiance to the King by members of
Fix this textthe Commonwealth other than India.
Fix this textI had a talk with him shortly after he made this
Fix this textstatement and found him very depressed.
Fix this textHe told me he was glas to find that you had used
Fix this textsimilar languase
Fix this text"" The second group is that of the extreme Nationalists
Fix this textamong whom are J. G. Strydon, Minister of Lands, leader of the
Fix this textParty in the Transvaal, and the Minister of Justice, C.R. Swart,
Fix this textwho leads the Party in the Orange Free State. They have taken
Fix this textthe line that the Declaration has smoothed the way towards
Fix this texta republic, but Strydom cautiously added we would have to wait
Fix this textuntil the Prime Minister came back"".
Fix this textStrydom is an interesting personality, about fifty.
Fix this textHo is a former ostrich farmer with a good academic equipment,
Fix this textan Arts Degree from Stellenbosch and qualifications as a
Fix this textbarrister. In his day he was a famous rugger player. At an
Fix this textearly age he married an actress who is said to have achieved
Fix this textIt's easy and takes two shakes of a lamb's tail!
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