Muller: S. Africa not isolated

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33454, 8 February 1974, Page 9

Muller: S. Africa not isolated

(■V Z P A.-Reuter—Copyright > CAPE TOWN, February 7. The South African Foreign Minister (Dr Hilgard Muller) has defended what he himself describes as South Africa's “back-door” diplomacy, maintaining that it has been I successful in keeping the country from | isolation.

Answering Opposition criticism in Parliament that the (Government’s policy during the last 25 years had isolated [South Africa from the world. Dr Muller said that the country's international standing (had improved since the Second World War in spite of ■ set-backs.

■' “Many countries, including ‘l.South Africa, use the back [ door diplomacy which the I-Opposition decries,” Dr Mui ,!ler said. “Diplomacy in con fidence is no disgrace It is 1 done everywhere “It is a long and difficult ' road to peaceful co-existence in Africa, but we shall con tinue with our efforts because Iwe believe that greater real ism will, and must, come in Africa, and that it is our dutv to Africa to promote it, even if we have to do it in secret. “I agree that the position . in regard to black Africa i- , not what is to be desired, but > the assertion that our diaj logue with Africa has broken . down is not correct,” Dr , Muller went on. “Although it t has gone underground, it has i in no way been buried. There ’ are still influential leaders in Africa who believe in contact 'iwitn South Africa, and who "'Strive towards it.” The Foreign Minister said ‘ that South Africa had im- ; proved her relations with the United States and South r America, and that during the s last 10 years she had opened "-missions, or had accredited i representatives, in 11 foreign States. 1 “When the Leader of th" "lUnited Party Opposition (Sir ’de Villiers Graaff) talked • (about South Africa’s isolation. he was presumably re* s ferring to the United Nai- • ions,” Dr Muller said. “But f when we speak of our posiy tion at the United Nations. ' we should remember that the ■ so-called Third World, which has never been favourably disposed towards us, has grown to such an extent that (today, with the suport of the Communist group, it is able, at will, to force through the United Nations any resolution on any subject against ■ any country.”