S.A. EXIT “TRAGEDY”

Press, Volume C, Issue 29470, 23 March 1961, Page 8

S.A. EXIT “TRAGEDY”

Comment By Welensky (N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) SALISBURY (Southern Rhodesia), Mar. 21. The Prime Minister of the Central African Federation (Sir Roy Welensky) told a crowd at Salisbury airport today that South Africa’s exit from the Commonwealth is “one of the major tragedies.” He said those who loved the Commonwealth “should put our thinking caps on so as to avoid a repetition of this tragedy,” American Associated Press reported. Sir Roy Welensky, who arrived back from the London conference of Commonwealth Prime Ministers, said that the Commonwealth might be getting into the position of the United Nations, where the Security Council with the power of veto had become necessary. He found it difficult to stomach that a small country representing 5.000.000 people should have the same say as a country representing 50.000,000 people in the Commonwealth conferences. Sir Roy Welensky expressed the hope that the Rhodesian Federation and its important trade partner and neighbour. South Africa, will be able to establish mutual relations similar to those between the Irish Republic and the United Kingdom. On the Northern Rhodesia constitutional crisis, he said he believed a reasonable basis for discussion had been arrived at in London and that talks on the contentious Macleod plan would resume in Lusaka. Sir Roy Welensky said he was happier now than for a long time about the future of Northern Rhodesia. African Leaders In Court (NZ.P.A. .Reuter—Copyright) JOHANNESBURG, March 21. Ten of the African leaders arrested yesterday by South African police were today released on bail till March 29 after appearing in Court on charges qnder the Suppression of Communism and Unlawful Acts.