SOUTH-WEST AFRICA

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28542, 22 March 1958, Page 8

SOUTH-WEST AFRICA

U.Nd Discussions Expected (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) WINDHOEK (South-west Africa), March 20. The South African Minister of External Affairs, Mr Eric Louw, surprised political observers last night with an announcement that he expected South Africa to hold discussions with the United Nations “good offices" committee on South-west Africa. He told a political meeting that he expected the committee to send a formal invitation to the South African Government after the General Election. A probable venue for the meeting would be London. The United Nations want* the South African Government to place South-west Africa under an international trusteeship agreement, but South Africa has refused to recognise that the United Nations has any jurisdiction in the matter.

Because of this matter and the question of South Africa’s apartheid policy, the South African delegation walked out of the United Nations in 1956 and the country has maintained only token representation since. Last year the General Assembly passed a resolution setting up a “good offices” committee to see if it could reopen negotiations with South Africa on the question of South-west Africa, the former German . colony . which South Africa acquired as a mandated territory from the League of Nations after World War I.