Documents: Africans Acting Alone

DOCUMENT 49b-4. Letter to the Prime Minister, from A.W.G. Cham­pion, Acting National Secretary, I.C.U., May 23, 1927 [Extracts] (Mimeo­graphed, 2 pages)

I.C.U. Head Offices,
16 Market Street, JOHANNESBURG.
23rd May, 1927.
The Hon. J. B. Hertzog, Prime Minister, and Minister for Native Affairs, House of Assembly, CAPETOWN.
Honourable Sir,

As one who has been in charge of the I.C.U. movement in Natal, for two years, and as one who is at present in charge of this Union at the Headquarters, in the absence of Mr. Clements Kadalie, I beg leave to submit this   statement   for   your  favourable consideration.

(1) Many reports have been put to you by different and respectable members of the Euro­pean race about the agitation pursued by the Officials of this Union particularly in Natal.

(2) Members of Parliament have made some many unfortunate remarks about the alleged behaviour of the Natives. I have been persuaded to feel that some of the statements have been actuated by political motives.

(3) The Government has been urged to pass Legislation muzzling the legitimate move­ments of this Organisation. Two weeks ago you were good enough to send the Natal Chief Native Commissioner to Greytown District to ascertain the true position on the spot. On seeing the reports in the Press 1 offered my services to go there with him, but he refused my offer.

(4) In Orange Free State also, according to the Press reports, Europeans are very much agitated over our movement. I feel that 1 should ask you to consider our point of view, and, if possible, to grant us the desired opportunity to place our views personally, and, where possible, to receive your personal advice. We feel that the reports that have been taken to you are exaggerative and misleading. I admit that here and there--there has been some irresponsible statements made by some of our Officials.

With full knowledge that your hands are full with work at your disposal, I feel, compelled to appeal to you to receive representatives of this Union, who, I have no doubt, will try to give the position as known to them.

There is a feeling in the minds of the Natives, particularly in Natal, that some evi­dence should be taken of their grievances.

The Government has been made to believe that it is the I.C.U. who are misleading the Natives, but the Government overlook the fact that it is the members of the European public that are doing more harm than the Native agitators, because they are busy telling natives that "We have a bad Government" and etc.

Without trying to exonerate the Union, I represent, 1 beg to submit that we have been told from the pulpits and the Press, and nearly everywhere, where Natives are employed, that this is a bad Government.

With these facts I again beg to appeal to you to receive a deputation from us with a view of placing our policy before the Government, . . .

I have the honour to be, Honourable Sir, Your Humble Servant, A.W.Geo. Champion ACTING NATIONAL SECRETARY.

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