WORLD CRISIS AND WORLD LEADERSHIP 25I
restored
to more normal proportions Kimberley diamonds would sell themselves. As
things were the Diamond Corporation was not in a position to dispute:
'if a customer comes along and says that he particularly wants B.C.K.
diamonds, it is no use saying to him, "I will not sell you this, you
must buy conference producers' goods". The very stagnation in the trade
and our financial needs make it impossible to argue: we must sell what
a man wants.' In regard to the position of the Diamond Corporation, he
said, 'I camiot agree to take on any obligation which would throw £1
more responsibility on the Diamond Corporation, because our position is
that we cannot afford one penny more. We do not know where to turn, and
I will not, and cannot, accept any obligation which will increase our
liability by one penny.' In reply to this passionate plea, the Minister
stated:
I will not say anything now but in a fortnight's time I
will tell you whether you have the Government's permission or not, as
from 1 July 1931, in connexion with the reduction of your operations. This
is not a small matter you have put before mc, and you must realize that
when I have to give the Government's permission on a question of this
magnitude, it is my bonnden duty first to consult all my colleagues.11
The last word rested with Ernest Oppenheimcr:
Wc
will not publish it to the world. The main thing is that we have come
to sec you on the matter and there can be no question of our having
done anything without having first approached the Government. I am
anxious that the most cordial relations should exist between the
Government and ourselves. I can only repeat to you that we are really
doing what we genuinely think is best in the interests of the trade.
The
conference reassembled at Pretoria on 15 July 1931; meanwhile Mr.
Dickinson, the consulting engineer of De Beers, and Dr. Pirow had been
in touch with each other; naturally, Ernest Oppenheimer had been in
touch with his friends and colleagues in London. He opened the
discussions. He acknowledged the anxiety' of the Government over the
'ratio'; he thought London was doing its best; what really worried the
producers was the level of prices now reached, which indicated
disaster. Even the January-June prices of 1931 imperilled Jagersfoutein
and the Consolidated Diamond Mines of South West
II To
which Dr. Pirow, the Government expert, added: 'It should be made quite
clear that the Government is considering whether it will give its
permission or not, so that it is not to be understood that the Government has refused permission nor has it consented. Your
operations will be reduced with the full knowledge of the Government.
It is merely a matter of suspending the Government's reply for fourteen
days. I would rather you did not use the Government's name in any
announcement to the public.'
