122. Telegram From the Consulate in Cape Town to the Department of State1

830. For the Secretary. From Embassy Cape Town. Dept also pass White House. Subject: (S) Namibia: Delivery of President Carter’s Letter of April 6, 1979 to Prime Minister Botha.

1. (S–entire text.)

2. I saw South African Prime Minister P.W. Botha at 1220 p.m. today, April 9, accompanied by Secretary for Foreign Affairs B.G. Fourie. I handed Botha the April 6 letter from President Carter which I had handcarried from Washington.2

3. The meeting was short. Prime Minister Botha read the letter through once and said, “this is a threat,” as he tossed the letter onto the coffee table. “It is not intended as a threat, Mr. Prime Minister,” I replied, but he quickly interjected, “it is a threat,” and handing it to Fourie said, “there is nothing to discuss.” I repeated that it was not a threat but an expression of concern about the situation and hope that the UN plan would be put into effect. P.W. took the letter back from Fourie and read aloud the paragraph which reads: “The risk is clear. Should the U.N. plan fail to receive South Africa’s support, I believe that U.N. measures against your country would be inevitable.” I pointed out that this simply noted a risk that exists, but P.W. asked rather snidely, “who sabotaged the UN plan?” I said I thought the plan was still alive and could be implemented. He scoffed and, rising, made it clear that the conversation was over. He extended his hand, shook mine, and quickly said goodbye, his anger, if aroused, was well controlled.

4. Fourie escorted me the short way from the Prime Minister’s office to the open elevator without comment, then returned to the Prime Minister. I hope to see him later to see if P.W. had more to say after I left.

Edmondson
  1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Cables File, Africa, Box 20, 4–5/79. Secret; Sensitive; Nodis. Printed from a copy that was received in the White House Situation Room.
  2. See Document 120.