SAIIA SOUTH AFRICAN DIPLOMATS ABROAD.pdf

eighteen months or two years ago. The matter actually started /yf •
before we came into office (1925), when it was brought norm-'
to us that the people there were very unhappy, that they were
not getting the treatment which would give them the chance of
progress. Our Government then thought that it would be best
to appoint a consul there with whom we could be in communication,
and who would be able to do what was necessary for the
people. We also asked the approval of the Portuguese Government
to appoint a certain person who was living in Angola.
Unfortunately we were notified that the Portuguese Government
could not agree to the appointment of that person. Well, he
was the only_person.living,in Angola whom we could appoint
for the purpose. When we couTd not get his appointment
approved, we saw that it would be necessary to send someone
from the Union, and it goes without saying that we could not
get such a person for the €500 we wanted to give to the person
living there." 1
' - The deadlock was ended by the Angola_Boers themselves,
who decided, almost without dissentients, to (trek_away from
the country. Consuls were soon appointed elsewhere and there
were no further difficulties with foreign powers. Formal
jurisdiction was conferred by Government Notice No. 321,
dated February 22nd, 1928:
"It is hereby notified for general information that all
matters relating to forfip;n ropsnis in the Union of South Africa
wuTTfrom 1st March. 1928, be controlled by the Department.!^.
of External Affairs. All communications relating to consular
matters should, on and from that date, be addressed to the
Secretary for External Affairs."
At the head of the Department stood the $e£retary for
External Affairs. Second in command was an Assistant Secretary
for External Affairs, who also functioned as clerkfof the Executive
Council_antL Secretary to the.Prime Minister. At the outset
external and diplomatic matters were, attended to by three Si?
sections: the^External Relations, the^League of Nations and
Translations, and the^Entertainments Sections. The administrative
personnel consisted of the following sections: a Parliamentary
and Coding Section, and^Accounts and Staff Section, a^Records
Section, arfExecutive Council nnd I ibrary Section, and a*Messenger
Section.
As from September 1, 1929, the post of Assistant Secretary
was converted to that of Under-Secretary. As from October
27, 1933, a separate officer was entrusted with the function of
clerk_of the Executive Cou,ncj]|> The post of Professional Adviser / nh,
(International Law) was created as from January 1, 1929. It
was only filled intermittently and has since been found redundant.
1 Debate taken from Hansard: Vol. X, 1927-28. Col. 152ff.
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