VERWOERD ON S.A. WITHDRAWAL

Press, Volume C, Issue 29467, 20 March 1961, Page 15

VERWOERD ON S.A. WITHDRAWAL

"Commonwealth May Be Improved”

(A.Z. Press Assn.— Copyright) LONDON, March 18. The South African Prime Minister (Dr. Verwoerd) today forecast a further break-up in the Commonwealth “if the process of interfering in domestic affairs continues.” At a crowded press conference, the Prime Minister once again defended his Government’s apartheid policies and its attitude at the Commonwealth conference.

"If it was taken as a fundamental principle of the Commonwealth that democracies should be everywhere, then at least Ghana and perhaps others immediately come under fire,” he said. But, in reply to an earlier question, he said he thought South Africa's withdrawal could lead to an improvement m the Commonwealth. This was because Britain could hold the other members together without continually trying to placate both sides—South Africa and the Afro-Asian nations. He also thought it would lead to better British-South African relations. “We shall certainly build up strong cooperation and good feeling based on our very wide material interests. “Our great common interests and undisturbed friendship make it useful and valuable for both countries.’’ he said. He said he could not accept a compromise for staying in the Commonwealth

because he was not prepared to accept that interference in South Africa’s domestic policies should become an accepted new practice. Various nations might have moved at any time a motion for expulsion so that South Africa would have remained a member under threat. There was also the threat that other nations might leave the Commonwealth if South Africa stayed.

He defended his statement that some Prime Ministers were vindictive during the conference discussion on South Africa. “During the first days, anyway, there was no doubt everybody tried to be reasonable and fair—but vindictive words, such as abhorrence and suppression, were used,” he said. Later "certain members” became “hostile and vindictive” and started to impose conditions on South Africa’s membership. He claimed his definition of apartheid as “good neighbourliness” had been misinterpreted. “Apartheid means nothing else than separate development . . . it’s

the old way of life in South Africa,” he said. By development of Bantustans for the African he envisaged a commonwealth of South Africa—white and black states co-operating as separate and independent states. “That is what I described as good neighbourliness,” he said. “Apartheid is widely identified with race prejudice, whereas its very purpose is to remove prejudice and create harmony,” he said. In answer to a further question, Dr. Verwoerd said: "In the conditions of South Africa a single multi-racial society would set the stage for a struggle for supremacy and how can that end? “On the one side you would have a white people with their long experience and overwhelming technological and economic strength but small in numbers: on the other hand, the Bantu people with only overwhelming numbers.” he said.