Office of the Historian

745A.00/4–852: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Embassy in the Union of South Africa, at Capetown1

secret
Washington, April 8, 1952—5:49 p.m.

223. Indian Amb Sen delivered aide-mémoire Apr 7,2 expressing concern present tense situation SoAfr3 which he said susceptible spreading and causing wide repercussions throughout Africa, Asia. Made strong appeal to US Govt exert its influence with Malan Govt to insure that civil resistance campaign be handled in way not antagonize conflict between races, and to bring about change in SoAfr racial policies which injuring causes world peace. Dept stated careful consideration wld be given this msg.4 Similar communication addressed UK Govt London. Dept consulting Brit Emb Wash. Embs comments wld be appreciated.

Acheson
  1. This telegram was also sent to New Delhi and London.↩
  2. Not printed. The Indian aide-mémoire, dated Apr. 7, 1952, and the memorandum of conversation between Ambassador B. R. Sen and the Acting Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern, South Asian, and African Affairs, Burton Y. Berry, dated Apr. 7, 1952, are located in file 845A.411/4–752.↩
  3. On Apr. 6, the non-European South African population held massive demonstrations against the government’s racial policies. (Telegram 56 from Capetown, Apr. 7, 1952; 745A.00/4–752)↩
  4. According to the memorandum of conversation, dated Apr. 7, 1952, Acting Assistant Secretary Berry told Ambassador Sen that “the Department has been concerned over the situation in South Africa, and that we were relieved that the demonstrations on April 6 were, according to the reports which we have received to date, not accompanied by violence.” (845A.411/4–752)↩