Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume XXIV, Africa

498. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom¹

Washington, November 27, 1965, 3:52 p.m.

2997. Deptel 2950.² UN Role in Possible Oil Embargo Southern Rhodesia.

1. In connection study feasibility oil embargo against Southern Rhodesia, should be noted as additional consideration that it may be difficult to make clear to Afro-Asian UN members solely through feasibility analysis on paper that implementation of oil embargo would have many practical difficulties. It may prove necessary in order demonstrate good faith for UK and US to actually apply some restrictive measures regardless of prognosis for success of embargo.

2. In any case we would expect US–UK study to consider following UN aspects of an oil embargo program.

3. Clearly desirable to have broadest possible support and participation any embargo program which results from present study as this would maximize pressure to comply on obvious weak links as South Africa and smaller brokers. Depending on actual content of feasibility report and on need for positive US–UK proposals in next round SC consideration of Rhodesian problem,³ it might prove desirable seek SC Res embodying main points of whatever program US–UK may agree on, and urging all member states to support and apply it. In addition, SYG might be given role as recorder and publicizer of compliance and non-compliance. Finally, we exploring possibilities for sharing burdens of embargo and other measures against Southern Rhodesia among UN member states. Above points raised with British Embassy November 26.

Rusk

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 24 RHOD. Confidential. Drafted by Deputy Director of the Office of United Nations Political Affairs Jonathan Dean on November 26; cleared by McElhiney, Director of the Office of United Nations Political Affairs Elizabeth Ann Brown, Peter H. Pfund of L/UNA, Director of the Office on Inter-African Affairs Fred L. Hadsel, and Deputy Director of the Office of British Commonwealth and Northern European Affairs Mortimer D. Goldstein; and approved by Sisco. Repeated to USUN, Salisbury, Lusaka, Pretoria, Lisbon, CINCLANT, and CINCSTRIKE.
2. Dated November 24. (Ibid., FT 11–2 RHOD)
3. On November 20, by a vote of 10 to 0 with France abstaining, the U.N. Security Council adopted a compromise resolution calling upon all states not to provide arms and military equipment to Rhodesia and to do their utmost to break all economic relations with it, including an embargo on oil and petroleum products. For text of Resolution 217 (1965), see American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1965, pp. 689–690.