CLAIM FOR ANNEXATION OF SOUTHWEST AFRICA

Chronicle (Levin), 6 November 1946, Page 6

CLAIM FOR ANNEXATION OF SOUTHWEST AFRICA

NEW YORK, Nov. 4. Eield-Marshal Smuts opened South Africa's claim for annexation of Southwest Africa at the Trusteeship Committee meeting today. Anticipating Russian opposition, Eield-Marshal Smuts did uot mentiou Russia by name, but referred to thc "annexation by one Power of three ^neighbonriug States". Eield-Marshal Smuts also referred to Presideut Truman's statemeut on November 3 on tlie retention of the Pacilic Island captured by the United States forces. Declariug that Soutliwest Africa was an integrai part of South Africa, EieldMarshal Smuts said that informal polls of various tribes showed that 298,850 natives favoured annexation, 33,520 were opposed aud 50,790 were uot consulted. Eield-Marshal Smuts contended that the Union of South Africa with Soutliwest Africa was as inevitable as the union of Wales, Scotland and Englaiul, Texas and Louisiana with tlie United States or Eastern Siberia with Russia. It- was as iuevitable as the union of all India. Mr. Ivor Tliomas CBritaiii). referring to Mr. Molotov's allegatiou before tlie Asseiubly last week that the Powers holding mandates over former Gerinan territory had taken uo step toward tlie creation of United Nations trusteesliips, said that his delegation was astonished to learn from Mr. Molotov's speech that he was so ill informed. Every step had been taken so far as Britain was concerned. Britain had prepared trusteeship agreements for all of her mandated African territories and had circulated copies to other Governments, including the Soviet. "No cominents whatever have been addressed to us by Russia on our texts which have lain unacknowledged in pigeonholes at Mo'scow for almost 10 months," said ilr. Thomas. "The niain contributiou the Soviet so far has made toward the establishment. of the trusteeship system has been effeetively . to prevent , au. examination qf these texts between the two parts of this session."