Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-03-16
SOUTH AFRICA
u. Ms Censure Follows
Commonwealth Action

Continued From First Page
the world organization because
Of two resolutions. These pro-
test treatment Of Indians in
South Africa and South African
administration Of South West
Africa.
German Visit Cancelled
Official and unofficial reac-
ton in various parts of the
world was that South Africa's
walkout would increase Com
monwealth influence in Africa
and Asia.
Mr.. VerWoerd Cancelled plans
to 90 to France, West Germany,
en- route home. His scheduled
visit there next week had drawn
sharp, criticism from the oppo-.
sition Social Democratic Party,
which declared Germany had
learned under Hitler the conse-
quences Of a raciSt policy,
Today. the South African
leader took his usual place,
smiling and cheerful. and, after
the morning conference, de-
clared:
IF the United Kingdom gov
eminent is interested in main
tanning reciprocal trade rela-
tions between, cur two countries
to the advantage Of both,
arrangements could be made
on similar lines as in the case
Of United Kingdom relations
with Fire (the Irish Republic).
I'm addition, arrangements
could be made. with regard to
defense and other matters.
have every reason to believe
that this will be the case"
Mr.. Veroerd made his state
ment to reporters on the steps
of Lancaster House, where the
conference Is being held.
THE fact that South Africa
has Withdrawn her request to
remain a member of the Com
monwealth should not cause
the slightest effect on the
maintenance of good relations
and friendship between South
Africa and the United Kingdom
and the cooperation as in the
past in regard to all matters of
common concern" he said.
For example. South Africa will
remain a member of the ster-
ling area"
The South African leader de-
Tended his country's attitude
toward race relationships.
Replies to Critics
Most of the people who
criticize our country have
never been to South Africa to
see what it is like there" he
said. II have been looking
around London and have come
to the conclusion that condi-
tions for non-Europeans in
South Africa are much better
than conditions under which
many of the people live in
London.
In fact, non-Europeans in
South Africa would not live in /
the conditions I have seen in
London"
The sterling area to which |
he referred is a monetary |
grouping of states having cur
rencieS linked TO Britain'S
pound sterling. 1t includes all /
Commonwealth countries ex-
cept Canada. which is dollar
area. It has other members
not In the Commonwealth such
as the Irish Republic.
The rich mines Of South
Africa furnish most of the
gold that supports the pound
sterling.
Financial Experts Hopeful
While gold shares and South
African industrials slumped ON /
the London stock market. most
British financial experts tended
to discount the long term eff
fects Of the South African
action even before Mr.. Ver-
words statement.
The experts said tile finan-
cial position of Britain and the
rest of the Commonwealth |
would be unchanged. And as
for South Africa, they said at |
most it would lose some Com
monwealth trade preferences.
While Mr.. Verwoerd found
himself arrayed against the
other II Commonwealth mem
bers on the apartheid trace
segregation) issue, he got a pat
on the back from Sir Roy
Welensky, Prime Minister of
the Central African Federation.
The federation embracing