SOUTH AFRICA’S FUTURE

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27639, 21 April 1955, Page 8

SOUTH AFRICA’S FUTURE

Possible Status As Republic REFERENCES TO / LOYALTY (N.Z. -'ress Association—Copyright) (Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON, April 19. Mr Johannes Strydom, the South African Prime Minister, told Parliament today he would attend conferences of the Commonwealth Prime Ministers “whenever circumstances necessitated it,” but he could not undertake always to do so.

Opposition speakers had pressed the Prime Minister for his attitude towards future conferences after his absence from last January’s meeting in London. He said these conferences were usually held when it was impossible, or very inconvenient, for the South African Prime Minister to attend. He hoped that in future it might be possible to arrange a time convenient to everybody. Mr Strydom said that whether South Africa remained in the Commonwealth would depend on conditions at the time. He rejected suggestions that becoming a republic might isolate South Africa from the United States, Britain or other Western countries. Later Mr Strydom reproved an Opposition member for raising the question of loyalty to the Queen across the floor of the House. “Does he want the name of the Queen to be brought into a debate?” he asked. Loyalty Issue The member had asked Mr Strydom what kind of a republic he contemplated for South Africa and whether Government members had any personal loyalty for the Queen. The Prime Minister gave no details about a republic, but told the House that as a Republican he had “a legal loyalty” to the Queen. Mr Strydom said the Africa-Asia conference at Bandung “could cause nothing but disquiet for the future.” It was clear that the Prime Ministers of India and China were setting the tone of the conference, where the real purpose was to eliminate European influence from Asia and Africa. The purpose of the Bandung conference might profoundly affect European communities elsewhere, as Australia and New Zealand might be regarded as upholding European civilisation in Asia and as being part of Asia European South Africans were de termined to maintain themselves a white men, and their country as European country, with the help o the greater and stronger nations o' the Western community, Mr Strydoxr said.