Japanese Refuse New Invitation

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32234, 28 February 1970, Page 6

Japanese Refuse New Invitation

n (N.Z.P. A. -Reuter —Copyright; TOKYO. d The Japan Racing Association announced it would decline a ► , renewed South African invita i, tion to the top Japanese jockey, n Seu.eo Masuzawa. Three days ago, a South African Interior Ministry announcement said Masuzawa would not he given a visa to enter the country to ride in international races at Pietermaritzburg and Germiston over the next two weeks. Earlier yesterday the South African Government reversed Its decision and its Consul-General in Tokyo told the Foreign Ministry a visa now could be issued. But the Japan Racing Associf ation said after an emergency B* meeting of its directors that a Masuzawa coul,d not go to South )• Africa because his riding sched’9 ule for next week had already a been fixed after the initial n South African rejection. In Johannesburg yesterday k the Interior Minister (Dr Multi ler) explained his Government's r. second thoughts by saying: “As 11 a result of new facts which is have been laid before me I ree considered the position and dei* cided that visas would be h granted to the two men”*—Masu«awa and a Japan Racing Asso. IF ciatibn official who was to have n travelled with him. b- Dr Muller declined to say what the new facts were or why o Ihe visas had been refused ing Itially. n The ban caused an outcry in both South Africa and abroad d and it was feared it could blow b up into a new .international controversy over the country’s b sparthei(l policy. • For some time Japanese have been accorded the status of r,- “honorary white#’;’ , in South V Africa, entitling them to the r, privileges of the white populan tion. The visa refusal accord>r ingly came as a surprise both to Japanese officials and to

South African sportsman. A turf club official In Johannesburg, hearing of the Japanese decision, said race organisers were sorry but not surprised. "We are very sorry to lose the services of Masuzawa and his absence will no doubt rob the two events of a lot of col.our," said Mr Harry Richards, secretary of the Germiston and Benoni turf clubs. "The J.R.A. decision was not unexpected because of the time factor," he added.