SOUTH AFRICA: Cry of Secession

"The Union [of South Africa] has failed. We have not been able to build a nation. Let us accept the divorce, end the dogfight." Thus, last week, spoke Heaton Nicholls, 77, grand old man of British South Africa. A lifelong champion of Empire who carried the white man's burden as soldier (on India's North West Frontier), colonial administrator and judge (among the Papuan cannibals), Nicholls was alarmed by Prime Minister Daniel Malan's Boer victory at the polls (TIME, April 27). Heaton's proposal: the predominantly British province of Natal should secede from the Union.

The size of South Carolina, sugar-growing Natal...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!