The proposal made by Archbishop Hurley when he addressed the Indo-European Joint Council at Pietermaritzburg to the effect that the Indian community make a "gesture of goodwill, that they accept residential segregation as a means of allaying European fears in the interests of better understanding and as a means of furthering their own development towards full citizenship." falls flat as a pancake.

The proposal made by Archbishop Hurley when he addressed the Indo-European Joint Council at Pietermaritzburg to the effect that the Indian community make a "gesture of goodwill, that they accept residential segregation as a means of allaying European fears in the interests of better understanding and as a means of furthering their own development towards full citizenship." falls flat as a pancake.

The Indians are mere mortals, of course, and as such pay heed to the magnanimous advice of the Archbishop. However, if residential segregation is a means of allaying European fears, then Europeans have no cause to fear.

The Indian community of South Africa has already been segregated and their occupational position pegged down by laws of the land which disgrace the Statute Book of South Africa and offend Christian morality.

As the Asiatic Land Tenure Act of 1946 and the many laws which preceded it have compulsorily and forcibly pegged down the position of the Indian he is no longer in a position to move his residential occupation into any area he likes. We may, furthermore, respectfully draw the attention of the Archbishop to the fact that this situation has not been sufficient to satisfy the racialism of the Nationalist Government of Dr. Malan.

It has seen fit in its Calvinistic fervour to enact what is called the Group Areas Act of 1950, the provisions of which will force not only the Indians, but all non-white groups, into separate racial areas and thereby attempt to force the poor Indian minority to quit this country bag and baggage.

The Archbishop's proposal is not only wholly unjustified, but also misdirected. In all humility it is the Christian task of Archbishop Hurley and indeed of all Christians to demand as a Christian duty that the Nationalist Government repeal all unjust and racially discriminatory laws and abide by the Christian principle of human brotherhood and, if unable to do so, resign gracefully so that Christian and human principles of equality and brotherhood may find an abiding place in our country which we love so dearly.

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