Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-08-01

IACAS Vi 4No1 CAiClp 4tito0ScAu 4AafN
protested a colonial Office plan to
give some political representation to
the colony's 1000, 900 Africans.
The common factor In each situa-
ton is that the empires colored
races no longer regard white rule
as permanent or immovable. Prime
Minister Malan's party won the
election in South Africa primarily
on its color policies. They rejected
completely all ideas of racial equal
ity and tolerance. Malan said his
government intended to save the
ruling white race" from becoming
one of the worlds "half-caste ma
tons"
The British believe corporation
of the 100000 Assicans in the
colonies is essential for improving
living standards in Western Europe
and for re-orientation of common
wealth military strategy. That CO.
operation and political good will
may be lost if color persecution and
prejudice are intensified in South
Africa.
Some See Red Fight
But Britain's economic and mill
tary planners say they see danger
even greater than the loss of Ari-
can cooperation implied in the
Malan governments plans to keep
non-Europeans lin their places"
BY damaging black-White rela-
tionships in Africa, they say, Malan
may be giving impetus to the great
eastward turn the African people
already are beginning to take in
their first vague searchings for po-
litical, economic and social better
ment.
Many British officials say privately
they see the red light in the nation
alists' declared intention to deny
South Africa's nearly 100000 Indians
political representation, freedom OF
movement and equal c"''''1- 0''"i"!
rights with Europeans.
They point out the way Indians
are treated in South Africa has long
ranked in India, now the virtual
4, keystone in the commonwealth
structure of Pacific defense. They
warn that if South Africa accentu-
ates this problem, relations between
the two dominions will make joint
system of defense of the Indian
Ocean impossible.
midas constitution writer's are
due to reconvene soon in New Delhi.
Even if their quarrel with South
Africa does not make them decide
to quit the commonwealth, the COM
monwealth as a whole certainly will
be weakened as a factor in world
affairs.
One informant, in position to
know the lines of imperial general
staff thought, said that if show
down were to develop, Britain, how
ever little she might like it and
whatever the justices of the case,
would have to back South Africa.
Potential Ally
The Union, he explained, is the
pillar of the commemorative entire
African defense system, and Africa
is now the military and economic
bastion not emily of the British COM
monwealth, but also of Western
Europe. India, on the other hand, al
ready is orienting herself eastward
and in the long term is expected to
leave the empire anyway.
The same source said Britain
could count on active South African
support in an anti-Communist war.
The Nationalist would choose
neutrality, however, if Britain ever
found herself at war with venge-
ance-seeking Germany.
Another tricky factor which may
snarl commonwealth relations is
the way Malan, additionally an
anti British republican. regards the
question of intracommonwealth CO.
operation. Malan said recently he
would prefer each commonwealth
unit to maintain contact with its |
fellows independently, thus i'm
plicitly opposing the present system
of periodic conferences Of common
wealth premiers.
Although Malan has reaffirmed
the Unions intention to remain a
loyal member of the commonwealth
and the United Nations, certain
basic shifts in the Unions interna-
tional policies will come as no sur
prise in London.
Malan has suid the Nationalist
will conduct their country's affairs
exclusively on South Africa first"
basis, The dominion will quit the
United Nations rather than allow
it in any way to probe its domestic
affairs.
Economic Groups Worried
The Union may move again for
mally to annex Southwest Africa,
the former German colony intrusted
to it after World War I. and the
center of U. N. debate two years
ago.
South Africa and Britain may
clash over the future of Bechuana-
land, Swaziland and Basutoland,
landlocked British native protecto-
rates which SHUTS himself wanted
to take over in 1914.
Malan's assurance that his gov
eminent stands for moderation has
not altogether dispelled the near
panic of South Africa's big eco
nomic interests. These interests
appear to be genuinely scared that
aggressive domestic nationalism
might well interfere with a post
war boom which has depended on
international good will. They are