606. Memorandum From the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy) and Ulric Haynes of the National Security Council Staff to President Johnson1
SUBJECT
- Your meeting with Harry Oppenheimer at 6 PM today
South African industrialist Harry Oppenheimer (biography attached)2 has come to Washington to discuss Southern African affairs. Oppenheimer is a liberal South African whose views on race relations conflict with those of South African Prime Minister Verwoerd (“fair-VOR T”). Before his appointment with you, he will see Rusk and Ball. Because of his great influence in the commercial world and excellence contacts, your meeting could serve to (a) obtain his informed estimate of future trends in Southern Africa, and (b) impress on him certain US ideas for passing to political and business leaders in South Africa.
Oppenheimer’s visit is probably prompted by his concern over the slow deterioration in US political relations with South Africa. For example, [Page 1029] the South African Government has increased its public criticism of the US Embassy’s inter-racial entertaining. Most recently, South African restrictions on the use of inter-racial crews on flights from the carrier Independence resulted in our cancelling its port call at Cape Town.
We are in turn deeply concerned about the accelerating trend toward Government-sanctioned racial discrimination (“apartheid”) and extreme political repression in South Africa. “Apartheid” in particular is a major handicap to the Free World in its efforts to stabilize the political situation in Africa and keep the Chicoms and Soviets out. Our determination to solve our own racial problems in America, and our dedication to the democratic ideal, make it difficult to maintain friendly relations with South Africa.
The gut problem in our relations with South Africa is that the policies of the Verwoerd government are driving the rest of the world into a kind of opposition which in turn will probably only make the South Africans more bitter and determined. We have had to stop selling arms to South Africa and there will be heavy pressure for further action if and when the International Court of Justice rules against the South Africans on their application of apartheid to South West Africa. We receive Negro and liberal deputations all the time which ask us to apply “sanctions.” We tell them that such measures would only make such things worse, but what is there that would make things better? Oppenheimer, as the attached biography shows, is a man who might have the answers, if anyone does. So I think you may want to feel him out on this central question.
- R.H.
- McG.B.