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Smuts would have to do better than that. Though he would be able to hang on to the South-West Africa Mandate, world opinion, channeled through U.N., had blocked annexation, for the moment at least. The extent of Smuts's failure became apparent when the U.S. turned down the South African case with the statement: "The data do not justify annexation."
In the Union of South Africa, the white population did not seem disposed to argue the case on its merits. Said the Rand Daily Mail: "Since we can hardly deny that a color bar exists, there is little point in recrimination. ... It is the nation's policy, not that of any particular party. There is no likelihood of any great change for many years to come. ... If a nation chooses to adopt a policy which many others disapprove, it must, in these days of international organization, be prepared to pay a certain price for the privilege."
*South-West Africa is slightly larger than Texas and Louisiana combined, has a population of 300,000 natives, 30,000 Europeans. Diamonds are found in surface beds at the mouth of the Orange River. Some sections have so few trees that as many as 200 birds (called "republicans") frequently occupy the same community nest.