U.S. Alarmed By Apartheid Dangers

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30178, 9 July 1963, Page 13

U.S. Alarmed By Apartheid Dangers

(N.Z.P.A -Reuter—Copyright) WASHINGTON, July 7. The United States Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Mr G. Mennen Williams, has warned that the Soviet Union and other foreign countries might intervene if there was an “upheaval” in South Africa as a result of apartheid policies. Mr Williams, at present on a visit to several African countries, issued the warning in testimony before the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee in May. It has now been made public by the committee in Washington. When it comes to a partheto" be said. “we have indicated that we felt this was a policy which was dangerous to the future stability of that country and of Africa. And we have done everything in our power to get the Republic of South Africa, for its own advantage as well as ours, to change that policy." A Democratic Congressman. Mr Omar Burleson, of Texas, then asked: "What business is it of ours as to

whether South Africa practises apartheid or not?" Mr Williams replied. “It is of considerable importance to us, sir, because if the Republic of South Africa does not have a policy which is going to meet with the satisfaction of its people, there will be upheaval in that area, and the moment they start having that kind of upheaval there will be foreign intervention and quite likely the Russians would go in and there would be a strong

Communist penetration in this important part of Africa. A strong Communist penetration into this part of Africa would be detrimental to the security of the United States.”