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1986 Jul 16 - 1986 Jul 31
Prime Ministerial Private Office files

PREM19/1969
South Africa (Internal situation; relations with UK) (Part 12)

Source: TNA, PREM19 series
Release date: 2016 Feb 19
Classification: Secret
Page count: 266
Any docs withheld? 3
Themes: Foreign policy (USA), Foreign policy (USSR & successor states), Foreign policy (International organizations), Commonwealth (general), Commonwealth (South Africa), Race, immigration, nationality, Religion & morality

PREM19/1969 - download whole file (PDF, 256.1 MB)

Selections from this file

Showing items 21 - 40 of 49

Date Value Title
86 Jul 21 Mo Major South Africa: MT letter to General Obasanjo (South Africa) ["surprised that you believe... [Howe's] visit is being seen as an "exercise in futility". I recall... you clearly saw further direct contact as useful... general economic sanctions... would not be effective"] [declassified Feb 2016]
86 Jul 22 Tu Major South Africa: Tambo letter to Howe (Secretary of State's visit to South Africa) ["would be honoured to meet you, outside of... [the] context of your current mission"; MT inclined, in light of the stance taken by Tambo/ANC to Howe visit, not to offer an early meeting] [declassified Feb 2016]
86 Jul 22 Tu Major South Africa: Lucas Mangope message to MT (Address to the Bophuthatswana Parliament) [call on South African Government and ANC to engage in talks] [declassified Feb 2016]
86 Jul 22 Tu Major South Africa: John Howard letter to MT (sanctions against South Africa) [Leader of the Opposition in Australian Parliament supports MT's stance] [declassified Feb 2016]
86 Jul 22 Tu Minor South Africa: Sir Robert Crichton-Brown letter to Treasury (sanctions against South Africa) [analysis from Zimbabwe leaf tobacco company of effects on the Front Line States] [declassified Feb 2016]
86 Jul 23 We Major South Africa: FCO record of conversation (Howe, P.W. Botha) ["A difficult and at times heated discussion... Botha said that he was not clear what the purpose of... [Howe's] mission was, and would not have received him but for his regard for [MT]... [Botha read] from a prepared statement"; sanctions; Mandela; suspension of violence ] [declassified Feb 2016]
86 Jul 23 We Major South Africa: FCO record of conversation (Howe, Pik Botha) [sanctions; Mandela; negotiations; "Botha said that he felt betrayed. He was tempted to think that there was a hidden agenda and that some Europeans... [were] actually resigned to seeing a Marxist government installed in South Africa"] [declassified Feb 2016]
86 Jul 24 Th Key South Africa: Powell minute to MT ("Interview with Graham Turner") [in present form article risks "exposing you to sharp criticism for dealing too vigorously with Southern African problems at a very sensitive moment", but Sunday Telegraph resisting changes; MT - interview "obtained on a FALSE BASIS"] [declassified Feb 2016]
86 Jul 24 Th Major South Africa: FCO record of conversation ("Call on the Secretary of State by Mr Sam Motsuenyane, Chairman of National African Federated Chamber of Commerce") [Howe, Moberly, Motsuenyane, Kutumela, Ramakobya: sanctions; ANC/violence against black business community; negotiations] [declassified Feb 2016]
86 Jul 24 Th Major South Africa: Confederation of British Industry (CBI) press release ("South Africa") [Charles Powell notes risk of CBI statement on sanctions being read as "British industry opens the door to measures against South Africa"] [declassified Feb 2016]
86 Jul 25 Fr Major South Africa: No.10 note to MT (statement released by a Council of Anglican Churches in South Africa) [condemns apartheid; opposes sanctions, violent protest and ANC] [declassified Feb 2016]
86 Jul 26 Sa Major South Africa: FCO record of conversation ("Record of a discussion between the Secretary of State and Pieter de Lange, Rector of the Rand Afrikaans University and President of the Broederbond") ["growing acceptance of the need for ANC participation at the negotiating table... Afrikaners were ready for new thinking and for innovative leadership... Any peaceful settlement needed to bring in the extremes [of left and right wing]"] [declassified Feb 2016]
86 Jul 27 Su Major South Africa: FCO record of conversation (Secretary of State Meeting with Justices of the Supreme Court) [sanctions; ANC; detainees; legal system; independence for the homelands] [declassified Feb 2016]
86 Jul 28 Mo Major South Africa: No.10 minute to Howe PS ("South Africa: Foreign Secretary's visit") [lines to take following Howe's return visit to South Africa] [declassified Feb 2016]
86 Jul 28 Mo Major South Africa: Howe PS letter to No.10 ("The OAU and South Africa") [MT rejects proposal to write to President Sassou-Nguesson in his capacity as Chair of the Organisation of African Unity: "will only call forth a caustic reply"] [declassified Feb 2016]
86 Jul 29 Tu Major South Africa: UKE Pretoria telegram to FCO ("Text of a Statement by State President P E Botha on 29 July 1986") [Howe visit to southern Africa: "I told Sir Geoffrey that I looked upon his recent speech in the House of Commons as nothing but a threat against our country... Leave South Africa to the South Africans"] [declassified Feb 2016]
86 Jul 29 Tu Major South Africa: FCO record of conversation ("Meeting between the Secretary of State and Dr G Viljoen (Minister of Education)") [sanctions & negotiations] [declassified Feb 2016]
86 Jul 29 Tu Major South Africa: FCO record of conversation (Howe, P.W. Botha) ["A very difficult and at times stormy meeting"] [declassified Feb 2016]
86 Jul 30 We Major South Africa: Powell minute to Ingham ("South Africa") [press lines to take on outcome of Howe visit to South Africa & next steps; MT "very grateful" to Howe] [declassified Feb 2016]
86 Jul 30 We Major South Africa: No.10 record of conversation (MT, Howe) [analysis of Howe's visit to South Africa; next steps] [declassified Feb 2016]