Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-04-27

The Nationalist triumph c
OF disorders as the African
National Congress. which claims
10 speak for the unions 9.s
million natives. called on Afri-
cans 10 stay away from work
In a protest for more pay, po-
litical rights. and the end OF
apartheid,
In JohanneSburg's teemine
Sophiatown native quarter. po-
lice fired and made repeated
baton charges. Three persons
were killed. II injured and
hundreds arrested.
Came 10 Power In l94S
The Nationalist total is the
second largest number OF seats
ever obtained In the House OF
Assembly. II is the first time
In Union history that a politi-
cal party has won three consec-
utiye terms OF ONCE. The Ma
tionalists came TO power in 1913.
The slightly more moderate,
largely English-orgin United
Party, which the Nationalist
spotted "a unopposed seats was
able to win only 81 seats. the
same number 1t held in the old
smaller Assembly. Nationalist
held "a seats in the old Assem-
bly,. Liberal splinter parties
were completely wiped out.
More than 80 per cent Of the
electorate went to the polls and
the United Party. despite its
seat-by-seat drubbing. polled
q popular majority OF votes
cast, 100000 to 647.000 for the
Nationalist. South Africa's ma
tives have no vote.
Nationalist held their domi-
nant position in the Senate
by retaining IS Of 90 seats.
Victory for RaciaIism
The win for Prime Minister
]. @. Strijdom's National Party
was a victory for racialism and
Afrikaner pride. In a triumph
ant statement to his jubilant
supporters. Mr.. Strijdom prom
Used to continue resolutely"
his policy of racial apartheid
segregation.
Just how long Mr.. Striqdom
will remain at South Africa S
helm is insure. The Lion Of
the Transvaal" has been i'll for
some time. He made only five
speeches. travelled less than
5000 miles during the election
campaign.
Insiders say that Mr..
Strijdom. now that his policies
have been justified by an over
whelming electoral victory,
will step aside within the year.
The choice of his successor will
indicate just how far down the
racist road the National Party
hierarchy is willing to go.
The man most likely to sue
coed Mr.. Strijdom is Minister
of Native Affairs Hendrix F.
Verwoerd. Mr.. Verwoerd has
been responsible for imple-
menting the raciSt Nationalist
policies, and his nomination
would be a victory for the ex-
tremist Afrikaner wing Pos
sible compromise choices are
Minister Of Justice c. r. Swart,
Minister of Transport, B. j.
Shoeman or Minister of Labor
Jan de Klerk, Mr.. Strijdom
brother-in-law.
How Long He'll Wait
Hard-pressed English South
Africans now are wondering
how long Mr.. Strijdom. or his
successor, will wait before de-
claring South Africa a republic.
The establishment Of a repub-
lican form Of government has
been the cherished and stated
goal of the National Party for
many years. A considerable
segment of the Afrikaner popu-
lation would like to see such
a republic outside the British
Commonwealth.
English South Africans, 40
per cent of the total white
population, fear that National
ist gerrymandering, restrictions
on British immigration, rigid
requirements for attaining
South African citizenship and
the high birth rate of the Afri-
kaner population have made it
impossible for the National
party to be ousted by constitu-
tional means. They predict fall
ing foreign investment. worsen-
ing race relations and a fur
ther decline in the English
speaking population.
In ten years of Nationalist
administration. yearly immi-
grafton has dropped by more
than so per cent and more
than 100000 South Africans
have left the country for good.
Native "in His Place"
The Nationalist have come
to power for the third time by