POLITICAL “HOAX”

Press, Volume C, Issue 29468, 21 March 1961, Page 15

POLITICAL “HOAX”

Allegations By Papers

JOHANNESBURG, March 19 South Africa and the British Commonwealth "have been the victims of one of the most complete political hoaxes in history,” Johannesburg’s "Sunday Express” newspaper alleged today. According to Associated Press, the newspaper’s columnist “Tantalus” alleged: “He (Dr. Verwoerd) went through all that elaborate rigmarole at the expense of the British and South African taxpayer and, when it looked as if he was a hair's breadth away from retaining Commonwealth membership, he withdrew his application.”

The “Sunday Express,” an insistent critic of the Nationalists, developed the theory that Dr. Verwoerd had tongue-in-cheek when tie told voters in last year’s republican referendum that ne sought continued Commonwealth membership. Johannesburg's “Sunday Times” today charged that Dr. Verwoerd deliberately engineered his Commonwealth walkout, Associated Press reported. The “Sunday Times” said jn a front page allegation: “Suspicion is growing in Opposition circles that the Prime Minister went to London with the intention of breaking with the Commonwealth.”

It said Opposition leaders were carefully studying reports of the London conference to prepare a case backing up the accusation.