Leaders urged to 'put 'Bok tour behind'

Press, 16 March 1982, Page 2

Leaders urged to 'put 'Bok tour behind'

NZPA staff correspondent London The Commonwealth Secre-tary-General, Sir 1 Shridath Ramphal. has urged Commonwealth leaders to put the memory of the Springbok tour of New Zealand behind them in an appeal to avert the threatened African boycott of the Commonwealth Games, the “Sunday Telegraph" reported yesterday. The newspaper's diplomatic correspondent. Norman Kirkham, said that Sir Shridath had made the appeal in a letter sent to all Commonwealth governments.

In the letter. Sir Shridath says that the Springbok tour is “behind us” and that the Commonwealth would be damaged by a boycott of Brisbane, while Australia would be “slapped in the face." Sir Shridath, the "Sunday Telegraph" said, also seeks firm declarations of support for the Games from all Commonwealth members. His message follows up a similar letter sent to African nations by Australia's Foreign Minister, Mr Anthony Street. The Australian letters says

a boycott would undermine backing in Australia for the Government’s strong policy against sports contacts with South Africa. Fears that African nations could boycott the Games have increased in recent weeks, most notably with a statement by Mr Abraham Ordia of the’Organisation of African Unity that African countries would not go if New Zealand took part. An African decision on the Games is likely next month when the Supreme Council for Sport in Africa meets in Mozambique.