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

639. Briefing Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs (Sisco) to the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Rostow)¹

Washington, May 11, 1967.

SUBJECT

• “Your Luncheon with Ambassador Taswell of South Africa

Since I understand that you are lunching today with the South African Ambassador, I thought it might be helpful for you to have a current rundown of the situation in New York and of where we stand on our efforts to initiate a dialogue with South Africa on South West Africa.

You may recall my comments at a recent staff meeting to the effect that there were indications the South Africans were trying to drive a wedge between Washington and New York, or at least to see whether there are not some differences in approach between Washington and New York, which South Africa can exploit, on how to achieve the objectives of General Assembly Resolution 2145 (attached)² for which we voted last October. I know you recognize how important it is for all of us to speak with one voice at this particular juncture when we are seeking to negotiate a satisfactory resolution in New York which will keep all doors open.

The current situation in New York is very fluid. The Afro-Asians have tabled an extreme resolution looking toward immediate UN takeover in South West Africa and calling for necessary implementing action by the Security Council in the event South Africa defies the UN. The Soviet bloc have told them they cannot support this.

The Latin Americans have been discussing possible amendments with the Afro-Asians which would stress the necessity for dialogue and which would leave implicit the threat of possible enforcement action by the Security Council. We have been working with Canada, Italy and the UK on a proposal of our own which would provide for a UN Council and a UN representative to continue the efforts to find practical ways to achieve the objectives of Resolution 2145. The Afro-Asians describe our proposal as involving new delays in the desired UN take-over in South West Africa. However, discussions are continuing since the Afro-Asians appreciate the desirability of maintaining as much unanimity as possible in support of the objectives of Resolution 2145. The Scandinavians also have been working on a proposal setting up a UN body to follow through on Resolution 2145.

A Possible Dialogue with South Africa on South West Africa. Just before the Special Session convened the South African Ambassador in Washington delivered an aide-memoire, which was subsequently handed to all diplomatic representatives in Pretoria and circulated at the UN, which expressed South Africa’s willingness “to discuss with any other genuinely interested Government the problems of development in South West Africa provided that Government is prepared in good faith to make a constructive contribution to such discussion and is not solely looking for ways and means of implementing the recent General Assembly Resolution.”

The Ambassador confirmed that this language meant discussions without preconditions and did not exclude discussion of the implementation of GA Resolution 2145. Just before the Special GA convened Ambassador Goldberg suggested to UK Foreign Secretary Brown the possibility of exploring prospects for a dialogue at a London meeting between the two of them and South African Foreign Minister Muller. Brown was favorably disposed but believed any such effort should be deferred until after the Special UNGA took action. Consequently we have deliberately not responded to the aide-memoire since so much necessarily depends upon the outcome of the Special Session.³

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 19 SW AFR/UN. Confidential. Drafted by Elizabeth Ann Brown.
2. See footnote 4, Document 636; not printed.
3. On May 19, the U.N. General Assembly adopted Resolution 2248 (S–V) by a vote of 85 to 2 (Portugal and South Africa), with 30 abstentions (including the United States). It established an 11-member U.N. Council for South West Africa, responsible to the General Assembly, to administer the Territory until independence. The Council was to be based in South West Africa and was requested to contact South Africa immediately to arrange for transfer of the Territory. For text, see American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1967, pp. 264–266.