South Africa's Foreign Policy Outlined

Grey River Argus, 6 September 1948, Page 8

South Africa's Foreign Policy Outlined

CAPETOWN, September 1. The Prime Minister, Dr. Malan, addressing the Assembly said that m the present European situation, South Africa associated itself with the antiCommunist countries. Our sympathies are most certainly with Western Union,” he said. The Government regarded the Communist doctrine as a danger not only to the world, but to South Africa m particular, with its vast non-European population. , ± .. . Dr. Malan declared that Africa would have to be protected against the grave danger of Asiatic penetration. It was also South Africa’s.duty to protect thp Europeans in South Africa against militarisation of the natives. The time might be .ipe for a pan-African charter for the protection of' the continent against Asiatic penetration, particularly India. South Africa recognised the British Commonwealth as an inner circle of nations with whom she maintained close relations “of her own free will, and not under protest. Dr. Malan announced that 50 South African Air F'orce pilots were standing by ready to fly to Berlin to help with the air-lift, should the British Government require their services. Speaking on the future of the former Italian colonies, Dr. Malan said his Government thought that Cyrenaica should be given to Britain. It was generally accepted that Somaliland and Eritrea should be governed as mandatory territories by Italy. NOT GOING TO LONDON

Dr Malan said it would be impossible' for him to attend the meeting of Commonwealth Prime Ministers arranged for October 11. He said he had told Mr. Attlee that if there were subjects it was very desirable he should discuss with the British Government, he would arrange to go to' Britain at a suitable time. He had no objection in principle to attending the meeting of Dominion Prime Ministers, if it were in the interests of South Africa. Dr. Malan said his reasons were that the Government majority was very small and Parliament might still be in session.