APARTHEID OPPOSITION STIFFENS

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30471, 19 June 1964, Page 11

APARTHEID OPPOSITION STIFFENS

(N.Z.P. A.-Reuter —Copyright/ NEW YORK, June 18. Britain and the United States, two of South Africa’s major trading partners, are confidently expected to endorse today the Security Council’s latest efforts to per* suade the South Afri* can government to renounce its apartheid policy. Diplomats yesterday said that Britain would support a

draft resolution to create an expert committee of council members to study what measures might be taken against South Africa in the future.

Mr Adlai Stevenson, the chief U.S. delegate, had already indicated to the council that he would vote for the proposals. Apart from the committee, which is to report by next February, the draft gives South Africa until November 30 to agree to a proposal that a national convention of all races work out the country’s future—a proposal African countries are certain she will reject. A vote on the draft, »

co-sponsored by Bolivia and Norway, was deferred until today at the request of Czechoslovakia. The stand of Russia, Czechoslovakia and France is still in doubt The two Communist countries were known to feel that the “compromise” resolution before the council fell far short of the sanctions openly demanded by the seven African and Asian delegates who spoke during the debate. A large number of the 33 African member states were today reported to be opposed to the “compromise” draft. Mr Mongi Slim, Tunisian Foreign Minister, was said to have cabled his delegation,

advising against acceptance of the resolution. But at a stormy session of the African group yesterday the Foreign Ministers of Liberia and Sierre Leone were reported to have cautioned the other delegates that the draft was the best that could be obtained at this stage. The ivory Coast and Morocco, the two African members of the council, took a similar attitude.

The co-sponsors of the “compromise” were said to feel sure of at least eight votes in favour of their suggestions—one more than is necessary for adoption—without the risk of veto.