SOUTH AFRICAN RACE LAW

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26824, 1 September 1952, Page 7

SOUTH AFRICAN RACE LAW

Dr. Malan Attacks Court Ruling (N.Z. Pr«M Awociation—Copyright) (Rec. 7 p.m.) CAPE TOWN, Aug. 30. The South African Prime Minister (Dr. Malan) to-day attacked the Supreme Court’s decision against the High Court of Parliament Act as obstruction. “The road we want to follow is being obstructed by the Courts,” he said. “What is demanded of us is that as a white nation—the leader of the non-whites in South Africa—we should abdicate.” Dr. Malan was addressing a public meeting of Nationalist Party supporters at Bethal, Transvaal. It was has first public speech since the Supreme Court at Cape Town declared the Government’s High Court of Parliament Act to be invalid. “This is not the road which the great majority of Englishspeaking South Africans wish to follow,” Dr. Malan said. “The powers drawn up against us are very considerable, and the Government must seriously consider what it has to do in the circumstances.”

“The powers against us are trying to make us do away with all colour bars. They want us to pervert the whole of the past history of South Africa and to make a new beginning on the basis of complete equality, That is not the road Afrikanerdom wishes to follow.” Dr. Malan said the Government had given a mandate on the colour question and apartheid (segregation). He said the Communists in South Africa were telling the Africans to demand full equality. There was not only agitation among the Africans—their agitation was being accompanied by direct action. Dr. Malan said the Opposition policy on apartheid was nothing more than ah indirect encouragement to the Africans to take part in the resistance campaign. Dr. Malan made the following points:—

(1) South Africa was opposed to the United Nations Trusteeship Council in its demand that non-whltes in South-west Africa should be given the right to live among the whites—"lt is time that South Africa protected its Africans against the United Nations.” <2') Britain had lost India, Burma and Egypt, and had practically lost the Gold Coast—“lf she continues her past policy in Africa, I predict that Britain will find her grave in Africa.’* (3) The British Labour Party had stated that when it was returned to power it would ensure that the policy of colour discrimination was abandoned in every part of the Commonwealth, South Africa included—“ That was a very I serious statement.” Britain, U.S. Accused Dr. Malan accused Britain and the United States of flirting with India to win her support for the West, and that, he said, was why poisonous articles about South Africa appeared in the overseas press. South Africa would not allow any part of the Commonwealth to interfere in her affairs *md would never allow any British Government to interfere. A pro-Government newspaper, “Die Transvaler,” to-day called for the abolition of the whole of the South African Constitution as the quickest and best way of solving the country’s constitutional crisis. The way to do that, the newspaper said, was to get a mandate from the voters to create a Republic, which would mean that the present Constitution would disappear and a new one could be created. Newspapers Divided Newspapers to-day were vehement but divided on the gravity of the situation resulting from the Supreme Court’s decision. The anti-Government “Cape Times said that for the Government obstinately to continue to fight the Courts and defy the law, would lead the country from one shattering crisis to another. The Nationalist "Die Burger," said the effect of the present uncertainty on the African mind could scarcely be exaggerated. It was concerned that the effect might be to intensify the present non-European campaign against the “unjust laws.” The “Rand Daily Mail" said Dr. Malan should resign. There has been no indication of any Government intention to hold an early election. An election wMI probably be held in May, as the Government’s five-year term of office expires next year.