DECISION SOUGHT

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31785, 16 September 1968, Page 26

DECISION SOUGHT

D’Oliveira Case

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) LONDON.

A British newspaper said yesterday that it has asked South Africa to say whether the coloured cricketer, Basil D’Oliveira, will be admitted to the country as a journalist. The “News of the World” said a cable had been sent to the South African Prime Minister, Mr John Vorster, seeking clarification. The newspaper commissioned D’Oliveira to report the M.C.C. cricket tour of South Africa, after his controversial omission from the team which will leave London in November. The cable asked Mr Vorster about his hint last week that D’Oliveira might not be allowed into his homeland to report the tour for the British newspaper. The “News of the World” said people throughout the world wanted .to know whether D’Oliveira would go to South Africa as a correspondent. Unhappily there was no firm answer yet, it said. The editor reiterated an earlier denial of any ulterior motive in assigning D’Oliveira to report the tour. The cable said: “The game we are concerned with is cricket, and only cricket.” “If no reply is received we shall ask Mr D’Oliveira if he still wishes to go to South Africa, taking the risk that he will not be allowed in. He will make the decision. We shall not seek to influence him,” the newspaper said.