So. African Govt. Not Pursuing Anti-jewish Policy, Leader Says

The South African Board of Jewish Deputies took issue with publications abroad which are trying to create the impression that the South African Government is pursuing an anti-Jewish policy. In a statement made by E.J. Horwitz, chairman of the Board’s executive council, to the Government newspaper “Die Transvaler” the Board said:

“There have been occasional articles in the oversea press which seem to give the impression that their writers believe that the Government of this country is pursuing a policy of active discrimination against the Jewish community, and that the position of Jews here has become a party political issue. Some of these articles have contained glaring misstatements of facts; and even where such misstatements have not actually occurred, the selection of the facts has sometimes been such that the readers of the publications concerned could not but draw all sorts of incorrect inferences.

“Thus in an article which appeared in the American publication “Time,’ of May 5, which purported to describe the South African scene today, it was stated that ‘in the countryside news of Malan’s victory sent hooligans on a looting spree directed at Jewish stores.’ There is, of course, no truth whatever in this allegation.

“It will be recalled that shortly after the last general election, the prime Minister assured a deputation of the South African Jewish Board of Deputies that both he and his Government stood for a policy of non-discrimination against any section of the European population of South Africa. The Prime Minister and his Government have scrupulously observed the terms of that pledge. At no time since the Government has come into office has there been any evidence of discrimination against the Jewish community.

“I do not wish to imply, on the other hand, that South Africa is entirely free from all manifestations of anti-Semitic prejudice. In recent months there has been a marked increase in the distribution of anti-Semitic material. Parliament has also recently been the scene of some unfriendly references to Jews. Moreover, the Nationalist press has from time to time published items which have deeply offended the Jewish community.

“I fully recognize that we are living at a time when feelings are running high as a result of the controversy in regard to the Constitution. The controversy has undoubtedly had an adverse effect on race relations in this country. In common with all other South African citizens, Jews share in the disquiet which flows from the grave problems which are before the country today. But I reject any suggestion that the position of the Jewish community today has become a party political issue, and any report which leads to that inference is incorrect and misleading.”