ARMS TO S.A.

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32394, 5 September 1970, Page 20

ARMS TO S.A.

Protest By Churches The British sale of arms to South Africa would help to divide the peoples of the world still- further into two increasingly hostile camps; the rich, white “haves” and the poor, non-white “havenots,” says a report from the National Council of Churches Commission on International Affairs. “In the eyes of most countries, particularly those of the Third World, South Africa is today the epitome of racism and white domination,” said the commission in its report “Whatever the British Government, or the New Zealand Government, for that matter, may say about its abhorrence of apartheid it will be judged by its actions.

“British sale ■of arms to South Africa will be interpreted throughout Africa and in the rest of the Third World as a sign of support for white supremacy.” The commission said that the sale of any arms to South Africa would be a direct contravention of a resolution adopted by the United Nations in 1964, which the British Government had voted in favour of and which it had observed until now.

By going back bn that vote Britain would not only undermine the confidence of the international community in her own integrity: she would also deal a blow to the authority of the United Nations itself. It was clear that most African and Asian members of the Commonwealth were hostile to the British intention. Canada, too was sharply critical. A British decision to sell arms to South Africa would weaken the friendly ties between Britain and the African members in particular, and might be responsible for some of them leaving the Commonwealth.

The council agreed last evening to ask the Prime Minister (Sir Keith Hoiyoake) to make further representations to the British Government advising against the sale of arms to South Africa.