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1986 Aug 1 - 1986 Nov 28
Prime Ministerial Private Office files

PREM19/1970
South Africa (Internal situation; relations with UK) (Part 13)

Source: TNA, PREM19 series
Release date: 2016 Feb 19
Classification: Top Secret - Cab One
Page count: 289
Any docs withheld? 7
Themes: Religion & morality, Race, immigration, nationality, Foreign policy (USA), Foreign policy (USSR & successor states), Foreign policy (International organizations), Commonwealth (general), Commonwealth (South Africa)

PREM19/1970 - download whole file (PDF, 267.84 MB)

Selections from this file

Showing items 1 - 20 of 48

Date Value Title
86 Aug 1 Fr Major South Africa: Prime Minister Lange letter to MT (sanctions against South Africa) ["urge... that you... agree to... [selective] measures at next week's meeting of Commonwealth leaders"] [declassified Feb 2016]
86 Aug 2 Sa Major South Africa: Lord Thomas of Swynnerton letter to MT (sanctions against South Africa) [enclosed copy of letter from academic John Darwin arguing against sanctions] [declassified Feb 2016]
86 Aug 4 Mo Major South Africa: MT letter to Julian Amery MP (South Africa) [reply to letter noting views of Harry Oppenheimer on perceptions of the ANC amongst white South Africans and possible MT/Botha meeting] [declassified Feb 2016]
86 Aug 4 Mo Major South Africa: President Masire letter to MT (South Africa Defence Raid on Mogoditshane) ["Your message of deep sympathy and full support... much appreciated... appeal to you to do all in your power, to persuade the South Africa Government to dismantle apartheid and accept majority rule"] [declassified Feb 2016]
86 Aug 4 Mo Major South Africa: President Botha letter President Reagan (conditions for negotiations on the future of South Africa) [dialogue & release of Mandela conditional on all parties agreeing to end violence] [declassified Feb 2016]
86 Aug 6 We Major South Africa: MT letter to President Babangida (Commonwealth Heads of Government Review meeting) ["my impressions of the... meeting... and to tell you of the action which we in Britain will now be taking"] [declassified Feb 2016]
86 Aug 6 We Major South Africa: MT letter to President Moi (Commonwealth Heads of Government Review meeting) ["my impressions of the... meeting... and to tell you of the action which we in Britain will now be taking"] [declassified Feb 2016]
86 Aug 6 We Major South Africa: Chief Minister Buthelezi letter to Kinnock (Commonwealth Heads of Government Review meeting) [denounces ANC and alleged Kinnock defamation of Inkatha in House of Commons] [declassified Feb 2016]
86 Aug 7 Th Major South Africa: UKE Pretoria telegram to FCO ("US/South Africa: message from PW Botha") ["South African government... cannot see any way at present of avoiding a dialogue proving to be a slippery slope which would end in the ANC simply taking over power... seems unlikely that the [attached] letter to Reagan [proposing endorsement of basic principles] indicates any real flexibility"] [declassified Feb 2016]
86 Aug 7 Th Minor South Africa: South Africa Embassy letter to No.10 (letters of 5 and 7 July from President Botha to the Prime Minister) [cover letter letter only, referring to enclosed original copies] [declassified Feb 2016]
86 Aug 11 Mo Major South Africa: Baroness Young PS letter to No.10 ("Bermuda: anti-apartheid coalition petition") [forwarded to MT at request of Premier Swan] [declassified Feb 2016]
86 Aug 11 Mo Major South Africa: President Botha letter to MT (sanctions) ["outcome [of latest Commonwealth meeting]... represents a step backwards... The international community... insists on negotiations, yet its actions prevent the negotiations from proceeding"] [declassified Feb 2016]
86 Aug 12 Tu Major South Africa: No.10 letter to Dr. James Barber (training and education of non-white South Africans) ["there is already substantial help on offer from Britain, and from other governments and organisations"; details] [declassified Feb 2016]
86 Aug 13 We Major South Africa: Baroness Young PS letter to No.10 ("South Africa: President Botha's speech") ["the defensive line our News Department will take today, about which we have consulted Geoffrey Howe"] [declassified Feb 2016]
86 Aug 14 Th Major South Africa: No.10 minute to MT ("Tambo") [meeting with Howe; MT: "I doubt the wisdom of seeing him in London... No F.C.S has ever met the head of a terrorist organisation before - so I presume he is only seeing him as President of the E.E.C. Council of Ministers"] [declassified Feb 2016]
86 Aug 18 Mo Major South Africa: UKE Pretoria telegram to FCO ("Resumed Parliamentary Session") [legislative programme] [declassified Feb 2016]
86 Aug 19 Tu Major South Africa: UKE Washington telegram 2129 to FCO (2000Z) ("Messages from President Botha") [Michael Jenkins, Chester Crocker record of conversation: discussion of draft reply form Reagan proposing possible meeting between US/South African officials] [declassified Feb 2016]
86 Aug 19 Tu Major South Africa: MT letter to Prime Minister Lange (South Africa: Commonwealth Heads of Government Review meeting) ["my impressions of that meeting and to tell you of the action which we in Britain will now be taking"] [declassified Feb 2016]
86 Aug 20 We Major South Africa: Prime Minister Hawke message to MT (message to other European Community Heads of Government concerning the South African issue) [cover letter with text of message & No.10 reply attached; Hawke: "just as the Commonwealth has now moved to adopt further measures against South Africa so too... would it be appropriate for the... [EC] countries to do so"; detail of proposed further sanctions] [declassified Feb 2016]
86 Aug 21 Th Major South Africa: UKE Pretoria telegram to FCO ("Bishop Tutu") ["enthronement... as Anglican archbishop of Cape Town... Stoffel Botha... not in a position to give an assurance that all [invited guests] would have no difficulty in obtaining visas... mounting Government irritation at Tutu's advocacy of sanctions... [but] if anyone is immune, it must be Tutu"] [declassified Feb 2016]