156. Telegram From the Embassy in South Africa to the Department of State1
806. SecState pass USDel Secretary Immediate. Madrid for Ambassador Bowdler and A. Lake with Vice President’s party. Subj: Our Response to Rhodesian Threat to Zambia. Ref: Cape Town 0787.2
1. I received at noon today, May 17, the following letter from Hawkins in response to my approach of May 15.
[Page 422]2. “I have been asked if you will kindly arrange onward transmission of the following personal message from my Prime Minister to President Carter:
“Begins—Thank you for your message 15th May conveyed by your Ambassador in Cape Town.3
“I assure you that I have no intention of initiating an escalation of hostilities on the Zambian border. It was my realisation of the serious consequences of such escalation that caused me to ask Dr. Owen to use his good offices with Dr. Kaunda to prevent the planned incursions of ZAPU terrorists from Zambia into Rhodesia. If these should develop they would pose a serious threat to the lives and safety of Rhodesians, black and white. I must ask you to appreciate that it is a prime responsibility of the Rhodesian Government and the security forces to protect the civil population against terrorist attacks. We cannot be expected to tolerate a situation where these attacks can be mounted with impunity from neighbouring territories.
“I was therefore grateful to Dr. Owen for pointing out to Dr. Kaunda the serious consequences of an escalation by either side. I hope that in reply Dr. Kaunda has given a similar assurance to mine that he will not permit an escalation of terrorist attacks from bases in his country. Ends.
3. “I would appreciate it very much if you could expedite the passage of the foregoing.
4. “An identical message has been sent to the British Prime Minister. Many thanks.
“Yours sincerely, H. Hawkins”.
- Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D770174–1087. Confidential; Niact Immediate; Exdis. Sent for information Immediate to London, Lusaka, and Madrid. Sent for information to the White House.↩
- See footnote 4, Document 154.↩
- See Document 154.↩