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

64. Communication From the Group of Five to the South African Government¹

New York, undated

Communication From the Five to SAG

The Governments of Canada, France, the Federal Republic of Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States wish to express their considerable surprise and disquiet at the announcement by the South African Government on July 6 of the appointment of an Administrator General for Namibia.² In their view the announcement of this appointment is not consistent with the spirit of the Cape Town talks. In this connection, we relied on the statement by Prime Minister Vorster that he would not be taking any action during July and that it was his intention to appoint the Administrator General during August and indeed we conveyed this information to the Secretary General and other interested parties.³ We considered this interval to be necessary in view of our discussions with other parties and the importance we attach to the Administrator General discharging his functions in cooperation with the U.N. Special Representative from the outset. Moreover, in view of the role which members of the Contact Group have been playing, it would be normal to expect prior notification with respect to such an announcement.

The Five Governments believe this announcement will add to the difficulties of the delicate discussions in which they are engaged in order to bring about an internationally acceptable solution to the problem.⁴ It is therefore even more important to coordinate the timing of the assumption by the Administrator General of his responsibilities with the appointment and installation of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General. Similarly, given the inter-relationship between the duties and the responsibilities of the Administrator General and the Special Representative, we request that the proposed duties and responsibilities of the Administrator General be discussed with the Five well in advance of their promulgation.

1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, President’s Correspondence with Foreign Leaders File, Box 18, South Africa: Prime Minister Balthazar Johannes Vorster, 3–12/77. No classification marking.
2. In telegram 3312 from Pretoria, July 7, the Embassy informed the Department of the surprise appointment of Judge Marthinius Steyn as Administrator General for Namibia. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D770241–0098)
3. In telegram 969 from Cape Town, June 11, the Consulate provided a briefing on the Namibia talks, noting that the South African Government emphasized the need for rapid progress and expected to appoint the Administrator General in August. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D770209–0470)
4. In telegram 11133 from London, July 6, the Embassy reported that the issue of the Administrator General continued to be a problem for SWAPO, which declared in a July 6 press statement that free elections were impossible as long as any South African Authority-administered Namibian and South African forces remained in the territory. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D770240–0785)