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Anne, in response to Hilary, wrote: > Jan Smuts was involved with post WW2 consultations and I think the early > United Nations discussions--as Prime Minister of South Africa. Smuts was > at least 70 years old at the time. His history goes back a long way--he > was around at the time of the Boer war 1898-1901 While I was too young to remember 1948 (just barely!), my recollection of the history coincides with Anne's. The process was an outgrowth of the war and took a number of years. Smuts was Prime Minister of S.A. which was still then a Dominion in the British Commonwealth. He would have been one of many world leaders who had some involvement. As to Hilary's question about Smut's role and the position of South Africa, I believe the Afrikaaner Nationalists took power in 1948 -- the same year as the Declaration was passed. They then put in place the formal system of apartheid (though it had been in place in practical terms since the beginning of colonial times in South Africa). The new Afrikaaner government established the system of Apartheid through a series of laws -- a system that fortunately has now been dismantled. My own view is that the change in South Africa over the past few years ranks as among the most significant events of this century and if South Africa continues to develop peacefully respecting all peoples, then it may be one of the most important events of the millennium. TTFN Peter ************************************************************************** Peter Kidd Learning Materials Consulting Services 62 Coronation Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3N 2M6 Canada Tel/FAX: (902) 443-4262 Email: [log in to unmask] URL: http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/~aa163/peterkidd.html