Challenge To Wilson

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32306, 26 May 1970, Page 15

Challenge To Wilson

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter— CopvrighO LONDON, May 25. The British Conservative Party chairman (Mr Anthony Barber) has i challenged the Prime Minister (Mr Wilson) to declare his position on the threats of direct action against British trade links with South Africa that have been made by several militant groups opposed to apartheid.

Mr Barber said that Mr Wilson had gone out of his way, quite deliberately, to back demonstrators against the South African cricket tour 'hat was cancelled on Friday aftei Government intervention. “Does Mr Wilson now back the same demonstrators in their direct action against British companies with commercial interests in South Africa?” asked Mr Barber. “This is an issue of immense consequence, and one which may have the most serious repercussions, and it would be intolerable if he were to sit on the fence and not declare himself. The nation is entitled to know.”

Mr Barber’s challenge came after Mr Peter Hain, the young chairman of the Stop the ’7O Tour Committee, which successfully campaigned against the visit by the all-white South African cricketers had given a warning that the next logical target of the demonstrators would be British trade with South Africa. “It would be criminal to allow the tremendous support the anti-apartheid move-

ment has built up to just fade away,” he said. The movement has openly threatened to organise demonstrations against British companies with investments in South Africa. Its secretary, Mrs Ethel de Keyser, said that “a really big effort of public and private activity"—would be made against certain firms. In a statement issued last night, Mr Hain said: “Out movement will continue. Aftei the massive momentum, commitment and enthusiasm built up in stopping the 1970 tour, we assume that there can be no future apartheid sports tours to Britain. “We intend to ensure that this will be the case. We will hold the Cricket Council to its decision against future racial South African tours. “We have always seen this campaign as part of the struggle to defeat racialism and apartheid in all its forms. “Consultations will be held at every level of the movement as to our future direction on the wider issues of racialism in Britain and apartheid in general.” Mr Barber’s challenge to the Prime Minister was another sign that the ill-fated cricket tour is becoming an important General Election issue, with polling day just under four weeks away, on June 18. Mr Barber was the third leading Conservative to raise the tour issue with political

overtones. The deputy Conservative leader, Mr Reginald Maudling, had already condemned the Government for placing pressure on the cricket authorities to cancel the tour; it was a clear concession to those who advocated force and intolerance, he said. And Mr Quintin Hogg, the “shadow” Home Secretary, accused the man who holds the office to which he aspires, Mr James Callaghan, of bullying the English Cricket Council. I