EXTENSION OF APARTHEID

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28080, 22 September 1956, Page 11

EXTENSION OF APARTHEID

Strydom Plan For Protectorates

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON. Sept. 21. The South African Prime Minister (Mr Strydom) said in a speech at Pretoria that if the Brl’ish High Commission territories in South Africa were transferred to the Union, “then it stands to reason onr policy with regard to them will be, exactly the same as onr policy with regard io our own native areas," says "The Times.” The three territories concerned are Basutoland, the Bechuanaland protectorate. and Swaziland. “It would be a tragedy if in the meantime a policy should be applied there which in essence differs from the policy carried out in our own native areas.’’ Mr Strydom said. ’’ln view of their envisaged ultimate transfer to the Union of South Africa, we have the same interest in those territories and in their population as the British Government. "It was the clear intention at the time of the union that the three territories should at a later stage be transferred to the Union. "It has been stated that the territories cannot be transferred without consultation with their African populations. and such a promise has been made to them. It speaks for itself that we have never subscribed to the point of view that consultation necessarily means consent. "If the Impression has been created, however, that the natives would be unwilling to be placed under the control of the Union Government, then such unwillingness can only be the result of a malicious distortion of our policy by South Africa’s enemies over a period of many years. "I make so bold as to say that if the natives knew exactly what our policy is there would be no objection on their part to the transfer to South Africa." Mr Strydom said.