Foreign Relations of the United States, 1977–1980, Volume XVI, Southern Africa

373. Telegram From the Department of State to the Consulate in Cape Town¹

Washington, April 10, 1980, 1945Z

94302. Cape Town for Embassy. Subject: Pik Botha’s March 31 Letter to Secretary Vance. Ref: Cape Town 806.²

1. Following is Pik Botha’s letter to Secretary Vance. Apologize for foul-up in not getting it to you before now.

2. Begin text:

Quote Dear Cy,

Ambassador McHenry is reported to have stated in Cairo recently that relations between South Africa and the United States have deteriorated considerably, and he suggested that this deterioration might continue or even accelerate.³

Since I believe that in these critical times for the West you share my view that it is in the interest of neither of our countries that erosion in the relationship continue, I have so far refrained from commenting in public on Ambassador McHenry’s statement.

I am convinced that this deterioration is not of South Africa’s making and while I do not wish to go into the history of our relations, I think it is my duty to draw your attention to two matters which are currently affecting them adversely.

The first is the recent report of the State Department to Congress on human rights. This report was in the past limited to countries receiving aid from the United States. Presumably it was argued that the American taxpayer and Congress had the right to know what was happening in the countries receiving assistance from the United States. South Africa is not a recipient of American aid, but is now also included in this report.

We, and I presume for that matter a host of other countries, can see no justification for extending the reporting to countries such as South Africa which owe the United States nothing. The report as recently presented has aroused strong reaction amongst the members of the South African Government and will unquestionably have a deleterious impact on our bilateral relations. Furthermore, the section on South Africa contains distorted assertions and tendentious conclusions. No objective attempt is being made to see the South African situation in perspective.

It is not difficult for us to agree on the principle that human rights should be upheld. However, the degree to which human rights are enjoyed or denied in the countries of the world is determined by historical, political, cultural, economic and other variable factors. As a result, the state of human rights differs considerably from country to country with some countries having advanced quite far on some fronts and, at the other end of the scale, some governments still denying their people the most fundamental rights.

South Africa’s record compares not unfavourably with the record of the majority. In any event, we resent, in principle, constant official American commentary on our domestic affairs. I am sure that South Africa is not alone among the countries addressed in your report who resent the implication that the United States claims for itself the right to be the repository and arbiter of moral righteousness.

In addition to Mr. McHenry’s statement, and the above mentioned report, the deterioration in our relations is accelerated by the apparent efforts of the United States Embassy officials in South Africa to use the presence of American companies as a pretext for interfering in South Africa’s domestic labour affairs.

If you agree that good relations between our two countries are desirable, as I believe them to be, then these, what to South Africans seem to be deliberate efforts at introducing adverse elements into our relationship, must be discontinued.

Yours sincerely,

Signed R.F. Botha

Unquote.

End of text.

Vance

1. Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D800180–0291. Confidential; Immediate. Drafted and approved by Paul J. Hare (AF/S).
2. In telegram 806 from Cape Town, April 8, the Embassy requested a copy of the text of Botha’s March 10 letter. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D800176–0713)
3. McHenry made the remarks on February 14 during a talk and question and answer session with journalists at the American Center in Cairo. In telegram 3591 from Cairo, February 17, the Embassy transmitted the text of his remarks. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D800103–0663)