British Prime Minister Wilson announces arms embargo on South Africa

British Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, announced in the House of Commons that the British government has decided to impose an embargo on the export of arms to South Africa. Outstanding commitments by the Ministry of Defence will be fulfilled, but no new contracts will be accepted. The contract to supply sixteen Buccaneer aircraft was under review. The announcement to impose arms embargo on South Africa came at bad time as the country was under huge international pressure against its policy of segregation. The country was in its third year as a republic, established on 31 May 1961 by Prime Minister HF Verwoerd.