South Africa: Honorary Whites

Under the rules of apartheid, Asians in South Africa for years have been subject to many of the same restrictions as the blacks. One law forbids their sex relations with whites; another forces them to live in nonwhite areas. They cannot buy liquor without a permit, are not allowed in white hotels and restaurants. But Prime Minister Hendrik Verwoerd's racist regime began to have second thoughts about white supremacy as applied to Asians when, a few weeks ago, it contemplated a tempting $250 million industrial contract with Japan.

Tokyo's Yawata Iron &...