315. Memorandum for the File by the Deputy Director of the Office of Southern Africa Affairs (LaMont)1
SUBJECT
- Pretoria despatch No. 294, April 12, 1957—“Embassy Staff Study on the South African Race Problem, II; Diplomatic Policy Recommendation”2
The theme of this despatch is that if racial trouble breaks out in the Union of South Africa, there will be repercussions throughout the continent, and the implications will be dangerous for the peace and development of Africa as a whole. Pretoria believes that arguments against racial discrimination on this ground is better than on [Page 823] moral grounds. Arguments on the basis of injustice and immorality have been fruitless in the past and are likely to be fruitless in the future, hence this proposed new policy.
There seems to be no basis for argument regarding the inutility of protest on humanitarian grounds. The new policy proposed is undoubtedly better than nothing, but it is still rather remote from reality, as it is not easy to justify. No other territory in Africa has the same racial policy as the Union, and it does not necessarily follow that, if there is an explosion in the Union, there will be repercussions elsewhere in Africa. On this basis, i.e., something with which we are not in agreement endangers the peace and orderly development of the particular area and hence our own security, we could protest against something we do not like anywhere in the world.
A warning regarding the danger of investments seems too remote to bear serious consideration. Such a warning has never been given with respect to a friendly country. There is far more basis for such a warning in a great many countries of the world other than in the Union of South Africa.
In item c. on page 7, it is stated “It is in the interest of the United States that White leadership should be preserved, or at least indefinitely prolonged, in South Africa.” There seems to be some confusion in this paragraph between public administration and private interests. The economy of the Union is essentially private enterprise. Presumably the managers of such enterprises will be the most competent leaders regardless of race and will be entirely separate from the political setup. Even with respect to political matters, I do not agree that it is in the interest of the United States that White leadership should be preserved unless it is with the concurrence of the rest of the population.