The Press SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1975. Mr Vorster’s new diplomacy

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33775, 22 February 1975, Page 14

The Press SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1975. Mr Vorster’s new diplomacy

Poh’ Aral commentators might be “ surprised at this country will stand in six to 12 months trjfre". said the South African Prime Minister (Mr yo ester) last November. This cryptic utterance was generally thought at the time to be a hint of changes in domestic policy—a view strengthened by the announcement that when Mr James Fouche hands over the Presidential office in April to Mr Nicolaas Diedrichs, the new incumbent will take over some of the duties of the Prime Minister, particularly in acting as a link between the republic s various racial It now seems, however, that Mr Vorster was referring mainly to foreign policy, and in particular to South Africa's relations with black Africa. Mr Vorster's talks in the Liberian capital, Monrovia, v ith President Tolbert, reinforce the view that his Government if. seeking racial conciliation externally as well as internally. Mr Vorster spoke of a *' co-onerative understanding ” with Mozambique, including an undertaking that the new State would not harbour terrorists. On Namibia (South-West Africa) he may well hare been feeline less confident. He has repeatedly pleaded for time to reach a settlement there which would give majority rule in the Bantustans and a form of overriding white rule in the middle—and richest—white region. The African nationalist SouthWest African People's Organisation (5.W.A.P.0.) is committed, with United Nations support, to a unital* form of government, not to any tribal fedeaition. Mr Vorster protests that his Government wants to get Namibia oft its hands as quickly as po<dble Local rivalries there, as the Portuguese are finding in Angola, will not easily be overcome. With other African nations. Mr Vorster mav be reasonably hooeful of better relations, resulting from a quick exoansion of trade, and from talks his Foreign Minister. Dr Muller, has been having in Lusaka with the Foreign Ministers of Zambia. Tanzania, and Botswana, and with leaders of the African National Council. In this context, Mr Vorster's predictions of change “in six to 12 months ” certainly have wider than domestic application. Rhodesia is a different story. Because the Prime Minister (Mr Smith) has lost the confidence of so many black Africans, rapprochement between black and white Rhodesians seems to be as elusive as ever. 'As Mr Vorster moves towards an accommodation with the black countries neighbouring South Africa and Rhodesia Mr Smith must eventually make concessions to the large—black—majority of Rhodesia's inhabitants In Rhodesia, as elsew’here. Mr Vorster's new “ liberalism ” is based on a hardheaded appreciation of the growing force of black nationalism.