Jackson advocate., 1946-11-09
Oppose Efforts Of
Smuts Government
To Annex Africa
SEE NEW WORLD WAR OR
RACE WAR IN EXPLOITATION
OF AFRICAN MAJORITY

Warning that world war or
race war might eventually result
from policies of white exploitation
of the Negro majority in South
Africa. DR.. Alfred B. Xuma,
President General of the African
National Congress, yesterday lfrl-
day. afternoon expressed dissent
from the proposal of the govern
ment of the union of South Afri-
ca to annex Southwest Africa,
mandate since World War I.
DR.. Xuma, who received under
graduate and medical education
in this country, said that he
spoke for 100000 Africans in
the Union of South Africa in op-
posing annexation in conflict with
the Unions United Nations Dele
CATION, led by Jan Christian Smuts
who, DR.. Xuma asserted, repre-
sents only 100000 white people.
DR.. Xuma voiced his objections
in a press conference held under
the Auspices of the Council on
African affairs Inc, at 23 West
26th Street. The New York Com
mittee to win the peace, the
council for Pan American De-
mocracy, the Institute for Inter
national Democracy, and the
American Committee for the pro-
lection of the Foreign born also
have offices at that address.
Although DR.. Xuma has no
official status before the U.N.,
he said, he aspires to obtain
hearing before leaders here for
his view not only that the mass
of South Africans want to burst
the bonds of white Supremacy"
and established British poll
cies but also that they do not wish
to see Southwest Africans be-
come subject to the same condl-
tions. Annexation, he contended,
would provide "a fertile source
of cheap labor" among backward
tribes.
Describing Gen, Smuts as "a
statesman abroad and a politician
at home," whose government TAX
es the lead in racial and color
domination" over Africans and
Indians in the union, DR.. Xuma
urged a U. n. Trusteeship for
Southwest Africa. Some powers
ow favorable to the unions pro-
posal to annex Southwest, Africa,
he said, would switch their sup
port if they knew the "full facts"
DR.. Xuma also expressed hope
for an eventual international in
vestigation" of conditions in So.
Africa, where, he said, Non-white
people enjoyed a better status as
individuals in 1853 than they
do now.
"Some of us would like TO
avoid a world war and particularly
a race war" he declared, in his
second reference to possible war
seeds. 1--WE want to asst to put
the danger of a war at much
greater distance in years than it
seems to be-"
DIR. Xuma claimed that his con-
eress is supported in its dislike
of the Southwest Africa annexa-
ton plan by the inhabitants of
the neighbor protectortes of Bech-
uanaland, Basutoland and Swazi-
land. all, he said, deeming the
Unions government unqualified
by its record.
Alleging that he had been un-
able to talk to Gen. Smuts while
in the union, DIR. Xuma remarked
that he had travelled 10, 900 miles
to meet him for the first time. The.
occasion was a brief meeting dur
ing the recent new york herald tri-
bune forum.
Before he left the union, DR..
Xuma asserted, the government
tried to persuade him to refrain
from attacking the government
during his trip.
81 could not be muzzled, he
said. 1--WE told my government
their privileges are my gift, but
I'm going to serve my people and
serve South Africa" He said that
in his opinion he was given per-
mission to leave the union in the
belief that refusal would have
caused more reaction than any
propaganda" he might dissemin-
ate while abroad.
DR.. Xuma arrived in this coun-
try October 26. He listed the
chance meeting with prime min
lister Smuts as ''the greatest tn
ing" to date in his travels.