If General - Smuts' party would be glad to leave the
native question alone, they would no doubt grasp the opportunity to attack the Government's proposed Treaty with Germany—if that proposal survives long enough —as " injurious to the general interests of South Africa and the Empire." The latest news is that the Govern- ment intends to withdraw the Treaty, or at least to revise it considerably, possibly as a result of representations from the South African section of the London Chamber of Commerce. One can understand that present prices make it impossible for South Africa to buy British steel rather than German, but much alarm was caused by a report that the South African Government Steel Trust was to be handed over to German direction. The report has since been contradicted. .Safeguarding at home is dangerous for the very reason that it might persuade the Dominions to place their business interests first, even to the extent of " actively prejudicing British commerce."
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