Archive

1986 Mar 3 - 1986 May 30
Prime Ministerial Private Office files

PREM19/1966
South Africa (Internal situation; relations with UK) (Part 9)

Document type: File list item
Source: TNA, PREM19 series
Release date: 2016 Feb 19
Classification: Secret
Page count: 468
Any docs withheld? 7

PREM19/1966 - download whole file (PDF, 434.03 MB)

Selections from this file

Showing items 1 - 20 of 72

Per page:
Date Valuesort descending Title
86 May 30 Fri South Africa: UKE Washington telegram 1463 to FCO (2030Z) ("US/South Africa") [report on current political context surrounding Reagan's anticipated response to South African raids] [declassified Feb 2016]
86 May 29 Thu South Africa: Prime Minister Gandhi letter to MT (tour of African Frontline States) ["[has] reinforced my conviction that time is running out on a peaceful solution... in South Africa... [but] I am not pre-judging the results of [Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group's] endeavours"] [declassified Feb 2016]
86 May 29 Thu South Africa: MT letter to Commonwealth Secretary-General Ramphal (Nassau Accord and the work of the Eminent Persons Group: review of progress) ["I... confirm my agreement to the dates, venue and Chairmanship... [the Group's] mission must be given every encouragement to succeed"] [declassified Feb 2016]
86 May 29 Thu South Africa: No.10 letter to Howe PS ("South Africa: message from President Botha") [draft reply: MT "agrees [with Howe] that we should do everything possible to keep the... [Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group] initiative alive"] [declassified Feb 2016]
86 May 29 Thu South Africa: Foreign Minister Botha letter to co-Chairmen of the Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group ('possible negotiating concept' proposal) [detail of "four major questions... about the... concept"; "cannot accept that violence should be discontinued only for as long as negotiations take place"; "not interested in negotiation about a transfer of power"] [declassified Feb 2016]
86 May 28 Wed South Africa: Howe PS letter to No.10 ("South Africa: message from President Botha") ["thoroughly discouraging... no alternative but to continue to support the... [Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group] initiative"; Howe advises against MT reply to Botha; discussions with US; sanctions; Pik Botha proposal to meet with "four leading countries of the [EC]" ] [declassified Feb 2016]
86 May 27 Tue South Africa: Howe PS letter to No.10 ("Review of the Commonwealth Accord on South Africa") [draft letter of acceptance; "prospects for their mission are not bright... But the total collapse of the Commonwealth Group... would result in intense pressure on us"] [declassified Feb 2016]
86 May 26 Mon South Africa: UKE Cape Town telegram to FCO ("Message from President Botha") [Ambassador Moberly, Pik Botha record of conversation: "I said that it was the most depressing interview I had had with any Minister during my four and a half years as Ambassador, first in Israel and then in South Africa"] [declassified Feb 2016]
86 May 26 Mon South Africa: President Botha letter to MT (Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group) ["only a commitment to peace can result in negotiated settlements..."; "[it appears] if we do not accept... [the Group's] "possible negotiating concept" no further proposal will emanate from them... in the light of your own intransigence, I must assume [the Group's, likewise]"] [declassified Feb 2016]
86 May 23 Fri South Africa: UKE Cape Town telegram to FCO ("ComGEP: press leaks") [Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group; local press report on Group's meeting with Mandela] [declassified Feb 2016]
86 May 22 Thu South Africa: Howe PS letter to No.10 ("South African raids") [draft reply for MT to President Botha; "[Howe] finds... [Botha's] justification for the raids is flimsy... [and] shows no glimmer of appreciation for the risks taken by... [MT] on his behalf"; risk to survival of Commonwealth if sanctions are not enforced in event of Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group's failure to negotiate successfully] [declassified Feb 2016]
86 May 21 Wed South Africa: MT letter to President Botha (South African raids on Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe) ["writing to let you know of my vexation and... anger... impossible to understand... immense damage done to your international position and... to the Commonwealth intiative of which you make no mention... astonishing... next few days could be decisive... may be the last chance for a negotiated solution"] [declassified Feb 2016]
86 May 20 Tue South Africa: UKE Cape Town telegram to FCO ("South African raids: message from President Botha") [Ambassador Moberly record of conversation with Director General for Foreign Affairs] [declassified Feb 2016]
86 May 20 Tue South Africa: MT letter to Prime Minister Mugabe (South African raid on Zimbabwe) ["inexcusable.... The immediate need is to consider how best to keep... [the Commonwealth Group of Eminent Persons peace dialogue process] alive"] [declassified Feb 2016]
86 May 20 Tue South Africa: MT letter to President Masire (South African raid on Botswana) ["inexcusable.... The immediate need is to consider how best to keep... [the Commonwealth Group of Eminent Persons peace dialogue process] alive"] [declassified Feb 2016]
86 May 20 Tue South Africa: MT letter to President Kaunda (South African raid on Zambia) ["inexcusable.... The immediate need is to consider how best to keep... [the Commonwealth Group of Eminent Persons peace dialogue process] alive"] [declassified Feb 2016]
86 May 20 Tue South Africa: Howe PS letter to No.10 (South African raids on Zimbabwe, Botswana and Zambia) [advice from Howe] [declassified Feb 2016]
86 May 19 Mon South Africa: No.10 minute to MT ("South Africa") [details of the raids on Zimbabwe, Botswana & Zambia and of immediate UK government response] [declassified Feb 2016]
86 May 19 Mon South Africa: President Botha letter to MT (South Africa raids on Zimbabwe, Botswana and Zambia) ["continuation of... violence... as a form of pressure in the negotiating process... need for Governments... publicly to denounce the ANC... certain countries in Southern Africa continue to harbour terrorists... South African security forces were left with no option"] [declassified Feb 2016]
86 May 16 Fri South Africa: UKE Cape Town telegram to FCO ("Commonwealth Group") [report on Group's meetings with Mandela & with Pik Botha, and forthcoming itinerary] [declassified Feb 2016]