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

657. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Greece¹

Washington, April 17, 1968, 0012Z.

148039. Subj: SWA: Homelands Legislation. Ref: Cape Town 1018 (being repeated action addressees).²

1. Dept preparing strong protest for prompt delivery to SAG against proposed legislation (see reftel) as clear violation SA’s international obligations toward inhabitants and UN and highly injurious to well-being of inhabitants. Such an approach would avoid problem of “rigid new prescriptions for SWA’s future,” which Embassy flagged. Since SAG has delivered Bill and memo defending SAG action to US and all other diplomatic missions at Cape Town, Dept believes response necessary and appropriate.

2. Addressees requested approach host governments at high level in spirit of para 9 reftel. US hopes in this way encourage widespread reaction of disapproval, which would be conveyed directly to SAG, of this application extreme SA apartheid to international territory. We cannot afford to miss opportunity, however slight, for approach which might cause government have second thoughts. Bilateral representations could reinforce criticisms of parliamentary opposition and help cut ground from under familiar SAG theme that UN resolutions, which likely come in reconvened GA, are merely product African emotionalism and general political expediency.

3. SAG holds door open to dialogue—whether as matter lip service or genuine concern international opinion or both—and members international community should not hesitate speak up. Basic premise, as Dept sees it, consistent with 1950 Advisory Opinion and GARes 2145, is direct UN responsibility, which almost all members of international community recognize. Complementary premise is continuing obligation of SAG as illegal occupant SWA to respect rights of inhabitants. At present juncture members international community must continue demand through bilateral representations that SAG respect rights of inhabitants. Such action is necessary and proper prelude to any GA consideration and will complement longer term efforts to bring SAG negotiate with UN as responsible agency of international community on modalities of SAG peaceful withdrawal from SWA.³

Rusk

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 19 SW AFR. Confidential; Priority. Drafted by Campbell and Runyon on April 16; cleared by Clark, Richard W. Bogosian of NEA, Brown of UNP, Edward W. Holmes of AFSE, ARA Country Director for Brazil Jack B. Kubisch, Joseph Godson in EUR, and John T. Dreyfuss of ARA; and approved by Palmer. Sent also to Blantyre, Bonn, Buenos Aires, Brussels, Canberra, The Hague, Helsinki, London, Madrid, Ottawa, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, Rome, Stockholm, Tel Aviv, and Vienna. Repeated to Cape Town, Durban, Pretoria, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth, and USUN.
2. Telegram 1018 from Cape Town, April 12, reported a South African memorandum sent to all diplomatic missions concerning a bill tabled in Parliament to establish separate ethnic homelands in South West Africa. (Ibid.)
3. On May 3, Assistant Secretary Palmer delivered an aide-memoire protesting the proposed South West Africa homelands legislation to Ambassador Taswell. (Telegram 158297 to Athens, May 3, ibid.) Telegram 1318 from Cape Town, May 17, reported that the South African House of Assembly had passed the homelands bill on May 16 and that adoption by the Senate was expected the following week. (Ibid.)