120. Letter From President Carter to South African Prime Minister Botha1

Dear Mr. Prime Minister:

I am writing you again because I believe we are at a point where understanding each other is of extraordinary importance.

As you approach your final decision on Namibia, I hope you will weigh its implications for our relations as well as for the region.

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It is my conviction that your decision presents opportunities as well as risks.

The risk is clear. Should the UN plan fail to receive South Africa’s support, I believe that UN measures against your country would be inevitable.

I hope that it will not come to this. There is no reason why it should.

If the Namibia issue is put behind us, there is an opportunity we can seize to move on to other matters and to improve our relations.

Sincerely,

Jimmy Carter2
  1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, North/South, Funk, Chron File, Box 121, 4/1–18/79. No classification marking.
  2. Below his signature Carter wrote: “p.s. If there is agreement on the UN proposals, I believe it would be useful for us to get together at an early date. In the meantime, consultations among our advisors on Southern African problems should continue.”