NO CHANGES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26791, 7 June 1948, Page 5

NO CHANGES

RELATIONS WITH BRITAIN DR MALAN’S ASSURANCE N.Z.P.A.—Reuter—Copyright PRETORIA, June 4. South Africa would “ gladly continue ” her good relations with Britain and other Commonwealth countries if there was no prejudice to her status as a Sovereign State, declared Dr D, F. Malan in his 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 for an isolationist policy," he added. “We wish it clearly understood that we, like our predecessor, will undertake membership of the United Nations on the clear understanding that there is no interference from outside in our domestic affairs or a 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.” Dr Malan said his Government fully acknowledged the particularly friendly relations in which South Africa stood with the United Kingdom and the ether lands of the British Commonwealth. “These good relations we shall, as far as we are concerned, gladly continue. We must emphasise, however, that co-operation for common ends will be possible only if there is no prejudice to our status and if 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, therefore, 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 all-em-bracing conferences. Dr Malan said many English-speak-ing people supported him at the gene ral election. There was enough common ground beiween 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 Africaans-speaking people would form a Government together, added Dr Malan, but for the first time since the Union there was a completely bilingual Government. Dr Malan said the Government would protect the particular interests of non-Europeans to the best of its ability. “Apartheid (segregation) is not the caricature which has so often been made of it. Indeed, it means for non-Europeans greater independence and self-respect, as well as better opportunities for free development” Dr Malan added that for Europeans apartheid meant a new feeling of safety through the protection of their identity and a future for both races It meant peaceful relations with each other and co-operation in the common interest.

Cabinet took the formal oath to bpar true allegiance to the King, his heirs, and successors.