MR STRYDOM CRITICISED

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28268, 4 May 1957, Page 11

MR STRYDOM CRITICISED

Refusal To Go To Conference

CAPE TOWN, May 2. The South African Prime Minister’s decision not to attend the Commonwealth Prime Ministers’ conference in London next month was described at Cape Town today as a disappointment to the entire nation.

The Leader of the Opposition (Sir de Villiers Graaff) also said in the House of Assembly: “I feel very strongly that the Prime Minister owes an explanation to the nation as to why he will not be present at this particular conference.” The Prime Minister (Mr Johannes Strydom) replied by reiterating his earlier statement that his decision was based on “personal reasons.” Mr Strydom said he agreed with the views of Prime Ministers of some other Commonwealth countries' that the conferences should be “something more than just conferences of Commonwealth countries.” “I feel they should not just be conferences of Commonwealth countries but should be conferences of Commonwealth countries convened from time to time for the discussion of specific points of mutual interest,” he said. “For example, such a conference could be convened to discuss defence matters, and on such an occasion the Minister of Defence would be the obvious person to attend.”

The Commonwealth, and Britain in particular, should guard against the “danger of permitting non-Europeans to have control of colonies that had recently gained their independence,” he said.