D’Oliveira Replies To Vorster

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31784, 14 September 1968, Page 15

D’Oliveira Replies To Vorster

(N.Z P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) LONDON.

The Cape Coloured cricketer, B. L. D’Oliveira, issued a new statement yesterday in the race dispute which was caused by his omission from the M.C.C. team to tour South Africa. The South African Prime Minister, Mr John Vorster, hinted that D’Oliveira might not be allowed into the country to report. The M.C.C.’s tour for the Sunday neijkpaper the “News of the World.”

D’Oliveira issued the following statement in London—“My only comment is to state, in the simple terms that the words were written, exactly what I have been commissioned to do during the M.C.C. tour to South Africa. “The contract gives only one undertaking: It Is: ‘Basil D’Oliveira will be available to comment from South Africa for the “News of the World” on cricket matches in which the M.C.C. takes part during the forthcoming tour of South Africa.’ “That is what I have been commissioned to do and I undertook that commission in the sincere belief that I could complete -£)ie assignment without infi-ritging any of the rules which I know so well in

• a country in which I grew ■ up.” , Mr Stafford Somerfield, edi- : tor of the “News of the ' World,” said yesterday. “Mr ■ Vorster is sadly misinformed . if he believes we have any ulterior motive (to use his ' words) in inviting Mr I D’Oliveira to visit South Afri- > ca to comment on the i M.C.C.’s cricket tour. ’ “We shall certainly not use i him, as Mr Vorster has sug- ■ gested, ‘as a pawn in the ’ game to bedevil South Africa’s relations with i Britain.’ Certainly, we would ■ not try to ‘create incidents to i undermine South Africa's i way of life.’ "We haye assured Mr Vori ster that 1 : the game we are i concerned with is cricket.

Mr D’Oliveira was engaged only to write about cricket. This is purely a matter of sportsmanship. Mr D’Oliveira is not only a great player, but a man of dignity and integrity. He would be a credit to any country. “As Mr Vorster has referred to politics, we are quite ready to make our position clear on this.

“We criticised Britain for refusing to send arms to South Africa. We have criticised the policy of sanctions against Rhodesia. We think it was stupid not to allow Colin Bland into England.

“We have made all this clear to Mr Vorster, and 1 have also offered to fly out to see him if he requites further clarification.”