A great variety of events occurred in 1974 which the South African Government could not ignore. We had the fuel crisis which made its mark, as well as the increase in the price of oil, Communism formed a strong, united front and made its influence felt everywhere. We had growing hostility in the towards the Republic and the consequent withdrawal of the Republic's Ambassador to the UNO. This is the background against which the Prime Minister delivered his New Yearns Speech.

The pace at which we live is such that events follow one another so rapidly that it seems like yesterday that we started the year and here we are again on the eve of a new year.

The increase in the price of oil dealt the economy of man blow. Inflation was rampant in most countries, the threat of famine and food shortage lies heavily on many nations, terror and lawlessness make front page headlines every day and the instability of our world was epitomized in the fact that the five greatest non-Communist countries, the USA, France, West Germany, Britain and Japan had to elect new heads of state - some of them under the most tragic circumstances 1 while there were also changes in other countries.

In contrast the Communist world, in spite of the apparent estrangement between Russia and Red China, formed an alarmingly united front in opposition to what they call the imperialist and Western world.

The so-called third world continued using the UNO and other world organisations and agencies to claim for themselves the best of both worlds. Judging from the words of the ex-president of the General Assembly, 2 they intend changing the UNO de jure into a super world parliament where the right to veto will play no part and where the acceptance of decisions by caucus will be a formality. Fortunately the words of ambassador Scali 3 of the USA give us hope that this country at least will strongly oppose such plans.

South Africa will certainly not accept them. The overtly unlawful conduct of the UNO, the flagrant neglect of the rights of certain member nations, and the obvious double standards which characterise all its decisions, have already caused us to withdraw our Ambassador to the UNO 4 and in the new year we shall carefully consider the role, if any, we can still play in the Organisation.

Even at this stage it is clear to us that we shall not allow others to prescribe how we have to handle our domestic affairs and we have repeatedly and firmly declared our stand on South West Africa. The nations of the territory will decide their future themselves. SWAPO is not South West Africa and the so-called leaders outside the territory are not the chosen or natural leaders and will not be forced upon the territory or its nations from without.

The fact that we are just as much part of Africa as any other state in Africa became very evident in the course of the year. The fact that we have a calling to fulfil in Africa and that we are indeed willing to play a part in Africa as partner of equal states in Africa, can no longer be doubted. We can also believe that the acceptance of this fact will in the course of time have great, if not decisive influence on relations between us and the rest of Africa.

The important role played by South Africa in bringing about detente in Southern Africa and understanding in Africa, has once more emphasised our aspiration towards a peaceful solution instead of confrontation. In this respect we must accept that the alternative to peace is an escalation of violence, which has the potential of igniting the whole of Southern Africa and causing endless suffering and damage.

South Africa's honesty in this respect is above suspicion and cannot be doubted.

However, the road to peace is not a one-way which can simply be strewn with landmines or where passers-by can be fired upon.

While I am talking to you now families are mourning their loved ones who fell after a cease-fire had been announced. 5 I admit it takes time to transmit messages deep into the bush, but those who have given their word, must realise that they have to keep it. Anger evoked by broken promises knows no bounds and the vengeance of the peacemaker who has been betrayed, is a consuming fire.

We express our deepest sympathy with those who have been called to stand beside the open graves of the sons of South Africa who died on the border.

All this goes to show that we must be on our guard and prepared at all times, while our conduct must at the same time be such that we cannot be blamed if the promising possibility of peace and understanding should suffer defeat. This question should be cleared up early in the new year and I still believe that there is ample reason for being optimistic.

The position in Rhodesia is that talks are under way between Mr.

Smith's Government and the Black leaders and I am satisfied that if the Black leaders really seek a solution, an acceptable solution will be found. However that is and that remains an affair for all Rhodesians to decide for themselves. The role that South Africa played in this matter has at all times been irreproachable and calculated only to create a suitable climate for talks.

As far as South Africa is concerned we notice with gratitude that contrary to most countries we are showing a strong growth rate, that we have had an extraordinarily prosperous agricultural year, that our faith in gold was proved correct and that our economy reflected and emphasised our country's stability in other fields as well.

Although the world climate is such that we can suspect a decline, we can nevertheless greet the future with great trust and have good reason to be thankful. We can indeed count our blessings and look forward to full employment and continued development and when we complete some of the biggest schemes we are working on at present. South Africa which is a relatively small country will increase in stature among the world's leading nations.

For this I express thanks and appreciation to all workers in all fields, our scientists and planners, our farmers and builders, our businessmen and educators and last but not least those who guard our safety and who maintain law and order - who each contributed in his field to the main­tenance, growth and development of the Fatherland.

I have a feeling that 1975 will not be an easy year. There are so many problems being carried over from 1974 that the leaders of the world will have to muster great statemanship to find solutions for them. The dominating picture I have of the road ahead is that of a snow plough which is indeed clearing the road but which is creating bigger and bigger mounds of snow. This together with the fact that one is constantly aware of the unstable peace the world is living in makes one wonder whether something is not going to give way in 1975.

Therefore if we look at the future merely from a human point of view, we have reason to be disturbed, but I feel positive about one thing which you and I have experienced in the past and that is that in the final analysis it is the good and merciful Lord who determines our ways and our destination.

I wish you a pleasant and prosperous New Year.

---

1 Reference is made to President Richard Nixon of the USA who had to resign from office because of the Watergate scandal.

2 Abdelaziz Bouteflika, Algeria's Minister of External Affairs, was president of the General Assembly of the UNO for 1974. See To the Point, 22.11.1974 for a discussion of the role under the influence of Algeria's aggressive president, Houari Boumedienne. In November 1974 Bouteflika ruled that South Africa could no longer take part in the 1974 Session of the UNO. With 99 votes against 22 and nineteen countries who abstained, the Assembly accepted its chairman's ruling. Cf. Die Volksblad, 13.11.1974.

3 Mr. John Scali, the USA's representative in the UNO, told Bouteflika with reference to the suspension of South Africa's membership, that it was a repudiation of the rules of the UNO's charter to subject a member state to "such unparalleled conduct". Cf. Die Volks­blad, 13.11.1974; To the Point, 22.11.1974.

4 Adv. Vorster summoned Adv. R. F. (Pik) Botha, the Republic's Ambassador to the UNO, to Pretoria on 13 November 1974 for discussion after the ruling by the President of the General Assembly that South Africa could no longer participate in the proceedings of the General Assembly. In addition the Government decided to withhold its contribution of more than one million dollars to the UNO budget. Cf. Die Volksblad, 13.11.1974.

5 On December 11 Mr. lan Smith, the Rhodesian Prime Minister announced a truce between the Rhodesian forces and the terrorists. Two days before Christmas four South African policemen who were on duty on the Rhodesian border were shot dead by terrorists. The policemen were killed on the banks of a river in the north-east of Rhodesia after they had discussed peace and the cease-fire with a group of terrorists. Cf. Die Volksblad, 27.12.1974; The Cape Times, 27.12.1974.

BACK TO INDEX PAGE