Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1961-03-11
South Africa 80.
;,,,ad from Pape Ona)

4
African Prime Minister, is due to
sound out fellow Commonwealth
Prime Ministers on their attitude
to South Africa's membership in
the Commonwealth when it be-
comes a republic in the near flu
ture.
This question is expected to be
highlight of the conference. 1t
is likely to be a delicate one since
6 of the IL Commonwealth Prime
Ministers are non-whites or nom
European.
A 18th member, Cyprus, is ex-
pected to be admitted during the
course of the conference.
The voices which are newly
raised against South Africa on
the eve of the conference in
clude those of eminent British
bishops; Hugh Gaitskell and other
prominent Labor members of Par
lament; Bishop Ambrose Reeves
Of johannesburg; and philosophers
like Alfred Aver of Oxford Uni
versity.
A number Of these protesters
have Joined forces in a letter to
The Times, of London, which is
one of the most effective ways in
this country of drawing attention
to a cause.
The letter speaks of the sense
of shame which many British
people feel at the apartheid policy
of the South African Government.
It asserts that South Africa and
its policy already have caused dis
sension in the Commonwealth.
The signatories therefore de-
mand that South Africa should be
refused readmission to the Com
monwealth in order to save the
Commonwealth from "disintegra-
ton, which would be a disaster
for the world"
The signatories assert that a
majority of South Africans are
in fact against the Verwoerd gov
ernment's racial policy. There it
is argued that it is the duty of
the British Government to take a
stand against the Verwoerd gov
eminent.
The letter says it does not be-
lieve the Verwoerd government
has been or is likely to be re-
strained in its racial policy by be-
ing a member of the Common
wealth.
On the contrary, the letter says,
''The fact that Commonwealth 10y
alties have dictated British sup
port for South Africa in the UN
is regarded as positive encourage
ment to that government (the Yer
woerd government)." u.Ia.
Another letter on the same page
from Bishop Reeves, who was de-
ported from South Africa because
of his opposition to apartheid and
since has resigned his see, says
he has changed his mind since
preaching in st. Paul's Cathedral
last December in favor of allow
ing South Africa to remain in the
Commonwealth to give the South
African Government time to change
its policy. Today Bishop Reeves
believes it is to dangerous for the
Commonwealth future to allow
South Africa to remain a member.
It happened this way. The.
Poyal Navy aircraft carrier Vic
torious has been at Cape Town
on a goodwill visit. In the proc
ess its royal marine band gave
concerts from one of which col
ored people were excluded.
Mr.. Macmillan was sharply
questioned about this in the Com
mons. He said it was not a mat
ter of a color bar. The concert in
question was given to a private
association of which Colore,. peo-
pie did not happen to be members.
But in the Commons M
the British Prime Minister had
to ask the Speakers permission
to make an apology to the Com
mons. He said he had learned
tickets had been sold to the public
for the concert in question.
The cinema management, acting
in accordance with local regula-
tions, confirmed admission to
members of the European races.
l apologize, Mr.. Speaker, for my
mistake"
Nevertheless it seem the British
Government policy is to support
South Africa's continuation in the