403. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in South Africa 0
70. Urtel 95.1 In absence Ambassador Naude Counselor Dunn called into Department for discussion points raised reftel. Department officer told him Louw speech based on two erroneous pieces information. Emphasized 1) our hope Louw doesn’t attribute economic interest as motivating factor our policy vis-à-vis new African states which of course untrue and 2) fact Governor Williams did not address conference but simply attended in role of spectator as he might any representative American group discussing Africa. At conclusion of conversation, during which points contained circular telegram 17782 were summarized, Dunn was asked to report above to his government. He agreed to do so but commented it will probably whet Louw’s appetite as he is spoiling for a good fight.
Decision call in Dunn motivated in part by his visit to Department yesterday apparently on SAG instructions to protest remarks attributed to Governor Williams at Maryland University Symposium April 20th. Department officer gave Dunn copy of Maryland speech and noted it contained nothing which had not been said on other occasions by US officials. Fact press item re Williams speech at Maryland not entirely accurate was also cited. After reading text Dunn acknowledged speech not controversial.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 15-1 S AFR. Confidential. Drafted by Hall and approved by MacKnight. Repeated to Pretoria and USUN and by pouch to Johannesburg, Salisbury, and Durban.↩
- Telegram 95, April 23, reported a speech by Foreign Minister Louw that spoke of the dramatic increase in power of the Afro-Asian bloc in the United Nations, and declared that this bloc was getting some support from Western countries that were more concerned about export markets in new African countries than about the fate of their fellow whites in South Africa. (Ibid.)↩
- Not printed.↩