page 616 - Long Walk Original Manuscript [LWOM_616.jpg]

prison walls I can see the heavy clouds and the blue sky over the horizon, that however wrong our calculations have been and whatever difficulties we still must face, that in my lifetime I shall step out into the sunshine, walk with firm feet because that event will be brought about by the strength of my organisation and the sheer determination of our people.

1. Tfhe Prime Minister's statement asking the world to give him 6 months and Pik Botha's at the UNO re abolition of racial discrimination. (a) We ourselves know Nat politicians very well and we did not believe that any fundamental changes would emerge. (b) Minister of Justice J.T. Kruger made the position clear to me that nothing more was contemplated outside the framework of separate development (27/12/73). (c) A man who rises to the position of premier in any country must be a man of ability, forceful personality and uprightness in his public life. (d) Even making allowances for all that behind the scenes manoeuvres and pulling of strings, enough funds to run campaigns and to secure the support of influential individuals and propaganda agencies I believe that B.J. Vorster is on merit a man deserving the highest honours in so far as white conservative politics are concerned. (e) His treasonable activities during the Second World War and his internment marked him as a man of strong beliefs prepared to fight for them even when he is in a minority and to pay the penalty for them. (f) In a democratic South Africa where all its people enjoy franchise rights there would be many men who would stand head and shoulders above him both in regard to personality and their views. Nevertheless, among whites as presently constitued he seems to stand out prominently. (g) I have no information whatsoever on his internal difficulties and of the extent of opposition to his 6 month declaration. But we would expect that an experienced politician