S.A. Warns Against Wrong Inferences

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31344, 14 April 1967, Page 1

S.A. Warns Against Wrong Inferences

(N.Z.P.A. -Reuter —Copyright)

CAPE TOWN, April 13.

The South African Prime Minister, Mr John Vorster, said in Cape Town last night that anyone who thought his speech on the country’s international sporting ties implied that all barriers would be removed was making a very big mistake.

Opposition members of Parliament and most South African newspapers yesterday interpreted Mr Vorster’s statement on Tuesday as a radical change in South Africa’s international sports policy. Many reports said that he had said racially-mixed teams would be allowed to tour South Africa, although Mr Vorster did not specifically say that “Unjustified Conclusions” He said in Parliament last night that people in South Africa and overseas were drawing unjustified conclusions from his speech. “If there are people who in any way believe or think that it can be inferred from my speech that all barriers will now be removed, then they are making a very big mistake,” he said. Mr Vorster neither said what unjustified conclusions had been drawn nor clarified his statement. But he said he wanted to warn sports administrators to read carefully what he had said yesterday before making statements. “They must not raise unjustified expectations,” he said. Pointed To Member He pointed to an Opposition member, Mr Dave Marais, who is chairman of the National Football League and a member of the Professional Boxing Board of Control, and said he would do well to read the speech. What Mr Vorster did say yesterday was that South African teams would henceforth be allowed to play in this country—where raciallymixed, sports are traditionally forbidden —against non-white countries in international competitions such as the Davis Cup.

He also said the Government would not prescribe to the team selectors of countries with which South Africa had traditional Rugby and cricket ties whom they should select provided “people do not make political capital out of the matter.”

General View This was generally taken by newspapers and other observers to mean that in future Maoris could be included in visiting New Zealand Rugby teams and that Basil D’Oliveira, the South Africanborn coloured England test cricketer could come with the M.C.C. team due next year. But few reported his remark’s “one thing I do not believe in is what people have tried in the past—namely, long before a tour takes place,

In Touch Again.—Sir Francis Chichester made radio contact with Buenos Aires late last night, after more than a week’s silence, “The Times” reported. Sir Francis Chichester gave his position as 25 degrees south, 22.53 west—London, April 12.

to name an individual and ask whether we will accept him or not. That sort of thing is only asked to cause trouble where trouble does not exist.” Last night Mr Vorster also said he would be glad to have the 68-nation Canada Cup held in South Africa. He also confirmed that multi-racial South African teams, selected on a raciallyseparated basis in South Africa, could travel overseas to the Olympic Games or other international events as a unified team. Relevance of Olympics The only newspaper to sound a note of warning was the pro-Government “Die Vaderland.” It suggested in an editorial that the implementation of the new policy announced by Mr Vorster depended on South Africa being readmitted to the Olympic Games. South Africa was banned from the Tokyo Games in 1964 because of its apartheid policy, but no decision has been taken about its future participation. “Die Vaderland” said the onus was now on the International Olympic Committee to accept or reject South Africa’s application to take part in the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. The committee will consider South Africa’s position at a meeting in Teheran from May 2 to 9, but it might not take a decision then. “Die Vaderland” continued: “Should the Olympic Committee yield to hostile pressure.

we will know that one or two Maoris in the New Zealand (Rugby) team, a d’Oliveira in the M.C.C. team or the international Canada Cup tournament on our soil are sports activities which will only be misused to ridicule South Africa’s national policies.”