‘South Africa Trying To Enter E.E.C.’

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32323, 15 June 1970, Page 11

‘South Africa Trying To Enter E.E.C. ’

(K Z P X Reuter—Copynpht; I PRETORIA, June 14. ! South Africa is trying ! to enter the European [ Common Market, according to highly-placed sources quoted by the Associated Press today.

In background briefings for journalists, Government financial experts said the trip through Europe by the Prime Minister (Mr John Vorster) and the Foreign Minister (Dr Hilgard Muller) was largely concerned with sounding out the possibility of South Africa entering the E.E.C. along with Britain or shortly after wards.

The members of the Common Market now are France. West Germany. Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxemburg. Not all South Africa's Cabinet Ministers have been brought in on discussions of the move, which might cause heated debate.

Effect on Apartheid Ultra Right-wing elements would prefer isolation if cooperation with Europe meant sacrificing aspects Of the country’s apartheid policy. In such an event, they would want South Africa to stick to its trade and other links with Rhodesia, the Por tuguest territories of Angola aod Mozambique and the economically dependent black territories of Lesotho. Swaziland Botswana and Malawi. Sources in Pretoria said that months ago Mr Vorstet sent a team of experts under

Mr Jan Lombard, professor of economics at Pretoria University, for an on-the-spot study of the economic implications for South Africa of Common Market entry. The mission was carried out in complete secrecy. Soundings of central bankers, finance ministers and other world financial leaders

were to be taken in the next two weeks by the Finance Minister (Dr Nicholas Diederichs), who left for Paris yesterday for a European visit during which he would cross paths with Mr Vorster, the sources said. Two Visits Before he left on his unexpected European tour. Mr Vorster made sudden visits to the Rhodesian Prime Minister (Mr lan Smith) and Malawi's Prime Minister (Mr Hastings Banda). Commentators say that Mr Smith is reluctant to see South Africa move closer to a Europe that officially isolates him. But Malawi is understood to have given enthusiastic approval to the plan, which it is admitted, might take years to come to fruition. Political as well as purely financial considerations are thought to have entered into Mr Vorster's decision to move South Africa toward Europe, the Associated Press says. He sees it as one way of influencing Britain to take a more,moderate line on issues which hit hard at South Africans, such as their almost total exclusion from world sport. I Mr Vorster apparently be-

lieves that Europe will become much closer politically, and he hopes that Continental countries will persuade Britain to reverse her increasingly militant attitude to South Africa. Vorster in Force Reuter reports that in Paris, on Friday, Mr Vorster said, after conferring with the French Prime Minister (Mr Jacques Chaban-Delmas) that all countries would in due course better understand South Africa’s policies. Threatened anti-apartheid demonstrations did not materialise. Mr Vorster, who arrived on Thursday on a three-day visit, said in answer to questions after the 50-minute meeting that he had discussed neither arms nor gold. “Even if we had discussed the question of arms, 1 would not tell yOu, but as it is we did not,” he said. Asked if he had the impression that the French Government understood South Africa’s racial policy better as a result of his talks with Mr Chaban-Delmas, the Louth African leader replied: “I am sure that as time goes on, all countries will understand South African policies better and better." When asked how France could be expected to vote at the United Nations on South African matters, Mr Vorster said: “Any man who can predict what happens at the [United Nations, I will build s him a statue.”