SOUTH AFRICA: Sailor Y. Premier

In a silver & gold Johannesburg hotel room one day last week, ex-Royal Air Force Ace Adolph Gysbert ("Sailor") Malan, 40, presided over the first National Congress of his newly formed War Veterans Action Movement. On the wall behind him hung a tiny stucco dancing girl; in front sat 85 sturdy ex-servicemen, ranging from white-mustached former brasshats to fresh-faced youths.

The delegates represented some half-million supporters in all parts of South Africa, roused to resistance against the increasingly severe racial segregation policies of 77-year-old Prime Minister Daniel Malan,*a distant cousin of handsome, pipe-smoking Sailor Malan.

Last week the veterans quickly buckled down to business. Said Congress Chairman Louis Kaneberman, a Johannesburg lawyer: "Those not with us are against us—there can be no compromise. To the timid we have given courage and inspiration where it was most lacking."

The veterans did most of the inspiring five weeks ago when 10,000 of them trekked into Cape Town—some from 1,000 miles away—to protest the government's "Fascist arrogance" with a huge torchlight parade. One hundred and sixty people, including 15 police, were injured when rioting broke out.

Specifically, the veterans charge Prime Minister Malan with violating the constitution as a result of his new franchise bill. This transferred the 50,000 "colored" (i.e., persons of mixed Negro and white blood) voters of Cape Province from the white voting roll to a separate roll. "Natives" (i.e., full-blooded Negroes) had been taken off the general voting roll in 1936.

The veterans blew their patriotic tops over Daniel Malan's bill because the constitution says that a two-thirds majority of both Houses of Parliament, in joint session, is necessary to repeal or alter franchise rights. The bill passed both houses, but in separate sessions with simple majorities.

Public view of the 2½-day veterans' congress was brief; Sailor Malan asked the press to leave before he outlined strategy for his group. His plans included: formation of five-man groups in every town to combat the Nationalist secret societies, 2) going underground if Prime Minister Malan bans his veterans movement. Said Sailor Malan: "Despite our spectacular beginning, we have only succeeded in focusing public attention on the dangers besetting South Africa. The battle has yet to commence in earnest."