Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume XXIV, Africa

631. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in South Africa¹

Washington, February 3, 1967, 11:51 a.m.

130663. Ref: Embtel 708.² Subject: FDR Call.

1. Dept has been informed by DOD that Navy has issued orders to CO FDR that crew may go ashore only in connection with organized integrated activities of any type.

2. Ambassador may wish consider organizing additional affairs, especially for enlisted men, to cover gaps which may result from restrictions individual liberty.

3. Embassy and CO FDR should coordinate in carrying out Navy instructions.

4. SA Embassy Washington being informed; you may also advise SAG.³

Rusk

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, DEF 7 S AFR–US. Confidential; Flash. Drafted by Country Director for South Africa G. Edward Clark; cleared by Deputy Assist-ant Secretary for African Affairs William C. Trimble and Captain Coward of G/PM; and approved by Katzenbach. Sent to Cape Town, and repeated to Pretoria.
2. Telegram 708 from Cape Town, January 30, reported that the Embassy and Naval Attache staff, with the cooperation of Cape Town officials and local residents of all races, were establishing a program for the FDR officers and crew designed “to maintain maximum possible multi-racial approach to shore activities within limits of laws and regulations and to be in American terms least offensive in manner of handling activities where segregation unavoidable.” (Ibid.)
3. In telegram 736 from Cape Town, February 3, Ambassador Rountree reported the embarrassing and difficult situation caused by the lateness of the Navy orders: over 1,000 citizens from organizations of all races had gone to considerable trouble and expense to arrange activities on a non-segregated basis for the crew, activities which would have to be cancelled. Arguing that a literal interpretation of the orders would result in deep resentment on the part of South Africans of all races, he asked for urgent reconsideration. (Ibid.) Telegram 131502, February 3, informed Rountree that the Navy’s orders could not be modified further. (Ibid.)