P. M. No. 10/ 1961
FOR YOUR INFORMATION: COMMUNIQUE FROM LANCASTER~ HOUSE
The following is the text of the communique
issued from Lancaster House
" At their meetings this week, the Commonwealth
Prime Ministers have discussed questions affecting
South Africa. On 13th March, the Prime Minister of
South Africa informed the meeting that, following
the plebiscite in October, 1960, the appropriate
constitutional steps were now being taken to
introduce a Republican form of constitution in the
Union, and that it was the desire of the Union
Government that South Africa should remain in the
Commonwealth as a Republic. In connection with this
application the meeting also discussed with the
consent of the Prime Minister of South Africa the
racial policy followed by the Union Government.
The Prime Minister ofSouth Africa informed
the other Prime Ministers this evening that in the
light of the views expressed on behalf of other
member governments, and the indications of their
future intentions regarding the racial policy of the
Union Government he had decided to withdraw his
application for south A~ frica's continuing membership
of the Commonwealth as a republic."
CANBERRA,
16th March, 1961.
Menzies, Robert
Period of Service: 19/12/1949 - 26/01/1966
Find more information on Menzies, Robert on the:
Release Date:
16/03/1961
Release Type:
Media Release
Transcript ID:
281
Document:
00000281.pdf
1 Page(s)
Released by:
- Menzies, Sir Robert Gordon
P.M. NO. 10/1961 - FOR YOUR INFORMATION: COMMUNIQUE FROM LANCASTER HOUSE
281