‘Suits S.A. Now To Be In Commonwealth’

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29146, 5 March 1960, Page 13

‘Suits S.A. Now To Be In Commonwealth’

(Rec. 9 p.m.) CAPE TOWN, March 4. Tlip South African Defence Minister (Mr Jim Fouche) Sid at Stellenbosch today would remain in the Commonwealth as long a» suits us.” He added that it suited South Ainca at present.

Addressing a students’ meeting, he declared that there was no fear of South Africa leaving the Commonwealth because of the Boer War. . .. But if South Africa had to sit at the same table as other Commonwealth members and taKe part in an argument which concerned South Africa, it would obviously then not suit South Referring to the Proposed referendum which will decide u South Africa becomes a republic or not, Mr Fouche said there could be no national unity in the country under a monarchical system, and at all costs wh_ men had to stand together or go under. . “I give vou the guarantee that none of the Government members knows when the republic will come, but to me it seems the fig tree is budding. “We now have only the final

thing to do—to choose a president who will be head of State, and not the head of the GovernThe speech by the British Prime Minister (Mr Harold Macmillan) to the South African Parliament had given the basic English attitude, and with this the South African Government found no fault, said Mr Fouche. It was wrong to say that the Nationalist Party did not accept the principle of human rights. It had made progress along these lines, though slowly because of an obstructing Opposition Mr Macmillan had spoken or the “security of all” as being the basis of his policy, Mr Fouche "The National Party followed the policy of apartheid because it also wanted to give such a guarantee of a secure future to all groups —also the white man in his own country. .