Vorster Warns Kaunda

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31502, 17 October 1967, Page 17

Vorster Warns Kaunda

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) LUSAKA, October 16. President Kenneth Kaunda yesterday refused to comment on a warning by the South African Prime Minister, Mr John Vorster, of retaliation if Zambia “tried violence.”

Speaking to reporters before leaving for Tanzania to attend the congress of the Tanganyika African National Union, Dr Kaunda said he had seen Mr Vorster's statement. Mr Vorster, who accused

Zambia with supporting would-be guerrilla infiltrators into South Africa, said on Saturday that if Zambia wanted to try violence, South Africa would hit her so hard she would never forget it. Speaking at a rally at Rustenburg, Transvaal, of supporters of the National Party, Mr Vorster warned President Kaunda:

“Stop this braggadocio and develop your country because in this way it will be to the benefit of your people andi the whole of southern Africa.” Mr Vorster said South Africa was not Interested in Zambian land, Zambian possessions or the Zambian people. “I wish to say that there Is nothing in their country which we are interested to have. We are only interested in what they have to offer to sell.”

All he wanted to say to President Kaunda was: “Get on with your work. Develop your country, or if you want to continue with threats try to put them into action and you will see what will happen.”