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1985 Nov 1 - 1986 Feb 28
Prime Ministerial Private Office files

PREM19/1965
South Africa (Internal situation; relations with UK) (Part 8)

Source: TNA, PREM19 series
Release date: 2016 Feb 19
Classification: Top Secret
Page count: 459
Any docs withheld? 7
Themes: Foreign policy (USA), Foreign policy (USSR & successor states), Foreign policy (Africa), Foreign policy (International organizations), Commonwealth (South Africa), European Union (general), Race, immigration, nationality, Religion & morality

PREM19/1965 - download whole file (PDF, 418.98 MB)

Selections from this file

Showing items 1 - 20 of 68

Date Value Title
85 Nov 1 Fr Major South Africa: UKE Pretoria telegram to FCO ("Restrictions on press freedom") ["We expect to be pressed to comment on the new measures and to say what we shall do to support the freedom of the press"] [declassified Feb 2016]
85 Nov 4 Mo Major South Africa: Brittan PS letter to No.10 ("South Africa: implementation of Nassau Agreement") [import of Krugerrands; computer exports; oil exports; nuclear exports; arms imports] [declassified Feb 2016]
85 Nov 6 We Major South Africa: UKE Pretoria telegram to FCO ("South Africa and the Commonwealth") ["I have yet to meet anyone in the Government or among ordinary South Africans who relishes the prospect of a Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group... coming to South Africa"] [declassified Feb 2016]
85 Nov 6 We Major South Africa: FCO telegram to UKHC Lusaka ("Eminent Persons Group") [assessment of current support amongst African governments for the Commonwealth Group] [declassified Feb 2016]
85 Nov 7 Th Major South Africa: UKHC Ottawa telegram to FCO ("Krugerrands: GATT aspects: Canada") ["have not... taken legislative measures... encouraged a voluntary ban... unlikely... to alter their current stance"] [declassified Feb 2016]
85 Nov 8 Fr Major South Africa: UKHC Dar es Salaam telegram to FCO ("Eminent Persons Group (EPG)") ["despite scepticism... that any measures short of economic sanctions are likely to influence the South African Government, we believe the Tanzanians are prepared to give it a try"] [declassified Feb 2016]
85 Nov 11 Mo Major South Africa: UKHC Mbabane telegram to FCO ("Swaziland: South Africa and the Commonwealth") [British High Commissioner Reith, Prime Minister Bhekimpi: record of conversation] [declassified Feb 2016]
85 Nov 12 Tu Major South Africa: President Botha letter to MT (Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group) ["Were it not for you admirable efforts, I would have had no hesitation in rejecting the Nassau initiative outright"; alternative proposal] [declassified Feb 2016]
85 Nov 13 We Major South Africa: UKE Pretoria telegram to FCO ("Internal situation") [report on detentions, incidents and deaths] [declassified Feb 2016]
85 Nov 14 Th Major South Africa: No.10 record of conversation (MT, Robert Adley MP) [Adley advises that "The best way... of encouraging... dialogue... would be to talk to the ANC"; MT "appalled by the recent pronouncements of Mr Tambo"] [declassified Feb 2016]
85 Nov 16 Sa Major South Africa: UKE Pretoria telegram to FCO ("Black participation in decision-making") ["The President has invited suggestions on black participation in a restructured President's Council... few blacks seem likely to wish to participate"] [declassified Feb 2016]
85 Nov 17 Su Major South Africa: MT letter to President Botha (Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group) ["dismayed... that your Government consider that it would be impossible to co-operate... The international pressures for sanctions... will fast gather momentum again"] [declassified Feb 2016]
85 Nov 21 Th Major South Africa: UKE Pretoria telegram to FCO ("Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group") [Ambassador Moberly, Pik Botha: record of conversation: "no way in which the... [South African government] could agree to be lectured"] [declassified Feb 2016]
85 Nov 22 Fr Major South Africa: No.10 briefing note for MT (meeting with Enos Mabuza) [concise character sketch; FCO briefing attached] [declassified Feb 2016]
85 Nov 22 Fr Major South Africa: Howe PS letter to No.10 ("South Africa: Eminent Persons Group (EPG)") [membership; announcement to S. African government; assessment of S. African government reaction] [declassified Feb 2016]
85 Nov 23 Sa Major South Africa: UKE Pretoria telegram to FCO ("Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group") ["three points which could tip the balance into South African rejection of the EPG"] [declassified Feb 2016]
85 Nov 23 Sa Major South Africa: Commonwealth Secretary-General Ramphal letter to MT ("Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group") [membership; constitution; press release] [declassified Feb 2016]
85 Nov 25 Mo Major South Africa: No.10 record of conversation (MT, Enos Mabuza) [strategy for initiating dialogue between S. African government & black representatives] [declassified Feb 2016]
85 Nov 26 Tu Major South Africa: President Botha letter to MT (Commonwealth Group on South Africa) [text of Statement "embodying my Government's reactions"] [declassified Feb 2016]
85 Nov 27 We Major South Africa: UKE Paris telegram to FCO ("French sanctions against South Africa") [possibility of being mooted at annual Franco-African summit and/or European Council; Franco/African trade] [declassified Feb 2016]