SOUTH-WEST AFRICA

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25090, 23 January 1947, Page 7

SOUTH-WEST AFRICA

UNO TRUSTEESHIP OPPOSED GOVERNMENT policy TO STAND (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (R ®£- 7 T p n P CAPE TOWN, Jan. 21. n i S e nT e l ader of the QPPOsition (Dr. „ Malan) introduced a motion in IT?! Assembly rejecting the United States request that South-west Africa should be placed under a trusteeship, also the request that Soutn Airica should negotiate with India on Indian problems in the Union. . T Malan said that if the United Nations interfered with the Union’s sovereignty, the question of whether x Hu 1 4£ r l Ca should remain a member of the United Nations would be thoroughly examined. The Prime Minister (General Smuts), replying to Dr. Malan's motion, said that as a result of the Government attitude, no draft agreement on South-west Africa would be submitted to the United Nations, therefore the position regarding South-west Africa would remain unchanged, and* it would continue to be administered under the Union’s laws.

“If we do not submit a draft agreement, what can the United Nations do?” said General Smuts. “We, under the United Nations charter, can decide whether to negotiate or not. I agree with the idea that we must try to keep out of the Trusteeship Council’s jurisdiction.” . General Smuts added that South Africa’s European population was in a position demanding the greatest caution. The wind was blowing, and a storm was threatening. The Asiatic Land Tenure and Indian Representation Act (which Indians claim is discriminatory) must stand “if Durban is not to becomb a second Bombay.” General Smuts said that South Africa was the guardian of Southwest Africa, and those peoples had expressed themselves as satisfied with Union administration and had asked for the incorporation of their territory in the Union. The Union could not flout their wishes. It would continue to administer the territory as under the mandate. In doing so it would carry out its contract. Asked whether the United Nations was likely to apply sanctions to South Africa, General Smuts said that South Africa had friends, and it was her duty to retain those friends. She must not provocatively flout iTie United Nations. That was why he was prepared to submit reports on the administration of the territory, to the United Nations, and why he had approached the United Nations in the first place with the proposal that South-west Africa should be incorporated in the Union.