S. AFRICA TO REMAIN IN EMPIRE: NO MEDDLING WANTED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22656, 5 June 1948, Page 5

S. AFRICA TO REMAIN IN EMPIRE: NO MEDDLING WANTED

fjJN.Z.P. A.—Eeuter— Copyright.)

(11.45 a.m.)' PRETORIA, June 4. South Afncf would ‘'gladly continue” her good relations with Britain and other Commonwealth countries if therh was no prejudice to her status as a sovereign State, declared the Prime Minister, Dr. D. F. Malan, in fife .first broadcast as Prime Minister, which was made soon after the Cabinet was sworn in.

“We fully acknowledge our partnership in the community of nations, and • therefore by no means stand t for an isolationist policy.

identity and future for both races. It meant peaceful relations with each other and co-operation in the common interest.

The Cabinet took a formal oath to bear true allegiance to the King and heirs successor.

“We wish it*to be clearly understood that we, like ’ our predecessor, undertook membership of the United Nations on the clear understanding that there is no interference from outside in our domestic - affairs or breach of our sovereignty. We shall build on this foundation and utterly refuse to allow our destiny to be limited by any country, Power or organisation except ourselves.'* “Gladly Continue” Dr. Malan said that Tils Government fully acknowledged the particularly friendly relations in which South Africa stood with the United Kingdom and other lands of the British Commonwealth. “Those good relations we shall, as far as we are concerned, gladly continue,” he said. “We must emphasise, however, that co-operation for common ends will be possible only if there is no prejudice to our status and ff there are no attempts of outside interference in our domestic affairs.” Dr. Malan added that with the recent admission to the Commonwealth of new members with equal rights, and especially in view of South Africa’s experiences at Lake Success, the danger of this interference was by no means imaginary. The question must inevitably be put, theretore, whether the good co-operation which everybody desired could be achieved better by independent contacts between individual members of the Commonwealth than by discussion at general and allembracing conferences. Dr. Malan said that many Englishspeaking people supported him at the general election. Bilingual Government

Winning English-speaking Friends It is expected that the first aim of the Government will be to win friends among the English-speaking South Africans and industrial workers.

Observers say the new Government will block or repeal the Asiatic Land Tenure and India Representation Act, which lays down that two Europeans are to be elected to the new Parliament as the representatives of South African Indians.

Politically, the Government will probably take action against the Communist Party. It is not expected to stop all immigration.

Illustrative of the Government's desire to seek friends among the Englishspeaking voters is the appointment of Mr. N. C. Havenga as Minister of Finance, giving the Afrikaner Party a Cabinet strength out of proportion to its Parliamentary strength. It is certain there will be no move towards a republic during the life of this Parliament because, apart from all else, the Government lacks the twothirds majority in both Houses necessary to make such a constitutional change. Observers say it is obvious that Dr. Malan has chosen his Cabinet, on service qualifications. It is probably the most erudite Cabinet since the foundation of the Union. Seven members of the Cabinet have law degrees. First impressions of Dr. Malan’s Cabinet are favourable. Dr. Malan has made good use of the talent available and appointed no “wild men" to key portfolios. Tne Transvaal Nationalist daily, Die Transvaler, commenting on the South African Cabinet, said the Ministers of the Interior and Native Affairs would feel the nation’s eyes-on them, as they were allocated the task of realising the goal for which the election victory was achieved. South Africa’s leading Nationalist daily, Die Burger, expressed regret that Dr. Malan had not placed one or more English-speaking fellow citizens in the Cabinet in the interests of sound racal co-operation. New Ministry Named

Dr. Malan said there was enough common ground between the two white races to eliminate the racial question from South African political life. Unfortunately co-operation had not yet gone so far that English and Afrikaansspeaking people would form a Government together, but for the first time since the Union there was a completely bilingual Government. The Government would protect the particular interests of non-Europeans to the best of its ability. “Apartheid (segregation) is not the caricature which so often has been 1 made of it,” he said. “Indeed, it means for non-Europeans greater in- ' .dependence and self-respect as well as 1 better opportunities for free development.” Dr. Malan added that for Europeans “apartheid" meant a new feeling of ; safety through the protection of their

The new Prime Minister, Dr. D. F. Malan, formed his Cabinet today. It will be sworn in tomorrow. Dr. Malan becomes Prime Minister and Minister of External Affairs. He made the leader of the Afrikaner Party, Mr. N. C. Havenga, Minister of Finance. This will ensure a NationalistAfrikaner coalition commanding 79 votes in a House of 153. The other Ministers, all of whom are members of Dr. Malan’s party, are;

Native Affairs. —Mr. E. G. Jamsen. Lands—Mr. J. G. Strydom. Justice.—Mr. C. R. Swart. Transport.—Mr. P. 0. Sauer. Health, Education and Social Welfare.—Mr. A. J. Stals.

Economic Development and Mines.— Mr. E. H. Louw. • Interior and Posts and Telegraphs.— Dr. T. E. Donges. Agriculture and Forestry.—Mr. S. P. Le Rouz. Defence. —Mr. F. C. Erasmas. Labour and Public Works.—Mr. B. J. Schoeman. Havenga Experienced Minister It is announced officially that the Minister of Agriculture would control food, Minister of Social Welfare would control demobilisation and the Minister of Defence would control aviation. Mr. Havenga has led the Afrikaaner Party since the death of his lifelong friend, General Hertzog, in 1942. He is one of the few Ministers with Cabinet experience. Political observers regard the fact that Dr. Malan gave Cabinet seats to seven Nationalists from the Cape Province as evidence that he intends to adopt a moderate course in international relations. The indications are that Dr. Malan will concentrate on internal affairs.

Difficulties in allocating seats between the provinces is regarded as being responsible for no announcement yet on the appointment of a deputy Prime Minister. The Johannesburg stock market eased following the composition of the new Cabinet. “In For a Bad Time” In Durban, Mr. Manilal Gandhi, a son of the late Mahatma Gandhi, said that non-Europeans in South Africa were “in for a bad time if the brutally frank election utterances of the new Nationalist Government were put into action.” He added that he hoped the party would “not be so ruthless as it had professed before coming into power.”