Nations chip away at apartheid

Press, 2 April 1985, Page 10

Nations chip away at apartheid

NZPA-Reuter London The latest South African police action on black protesters has shown that Western Governments are still reluctant to use economic weapons to influence the Government in Pretoria. Few are willing to change the long-held official view that binding economic sanctions would hurt the black majority more than the white rulers — as well, coincidentally, as harming Western business interests. Although there are signs of unease over official inactivity, authorities in North America and Western Europe feel continued contact and friendly pressure on South Africa is the best way of chipping away at apartheid. Since 18 blacks were killed 10 days ago on the 25th anniversary of the Sharpeville massacre antiapartheid campaigners in the West have called for sanctions such as a halt to investment in South Africa and tight trade curbs. The only discernible action has come from Nordic Governments and United

States banks. Morgan Guaranty Trust Company said it would make no new loans to the South African Government. The Bank of Boston said it would halt all lending to South African concerns.

Norway, a member of N.A.T.0., announced legislation requiring registration of ships taking oil to South Africa. Anti-apartheid groups say Norwegian tankers carry one-third to onehalf of South Africa’s oil.

Although Western Governments in general remain reluctant to take action, there are signs of growing unease over the way South Africa’s police are tackling black dissent.

Some officials say that each highly-publicised racial incident in the republic will reinforce calls from African and other Third World leaders, as well as domestic political opponents, for Governments to do more than show outrage.

At a Brussels summit last week, European Economic Community leaders were concerned about tension in South Africa and con-

demned “the latest violence by the South African police.” But West European diplomats say that not taking some form of action is becoming a tougher policy to follow. Developments in the United States are likely to set the pace, they believe. The United States antiapartheid movement has gained momentum with daily demonstrations in Washington since last November and bills to ban fresh investment in South Africa have been introduced in Congress. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has voted to consider sanctions if South Africa does not reform its system of racial segregation within two years.

The top United States African Affairs official, Chester Crocker, said Washington had no plans to change its policy of “constructive engagement” — trying to influence South Africa by maintaining a dialogue, investment and trade.

Nordic countries shelved concerted action. Foreign

Ministers from Sweden, Norway, Finland and Iceland agreed last week not to break trade ties with South Africa, but said they would study ways of increasing economic pressure in time for their next meeting in October.

Under Norway’s planned new laws, imports from South Africa must get Government approval and Norwegian firms will receive official incentives to stop exporting to South Africa.

Sweden, which has banned new investment in South Africa since 1979, last week secured the agreement of coal companies to halt purchases of South African coal. It banned loans to the Pretoria Government last month. Western Governments with a bigger stake in South Africa feel sanctions will damage the economy and rebound on blacks.

“We don’t believe they would work and we don’t believe they would bring the sorts of changes that we would all like to see,” says British Junior Foreign Office Minister, Mr Mal-

colm Rifkind. Officials question the impact of sanctions. The United Nations’ 1977 arms embargo, while largely effective, has forced South Africa to be more selfsufficient. “There are always going to be sanctionsbusters,” one Western diplomat said. Voluntary codes of conduct on employment practices for companies in South Africa are among measures favoured by Western Governments. Many E.E.C. and United States firms follow guidelines and Australia is to consider a code. Canada has its own voluntary code, but officials continue to reject sanctions. “Such measures would not promote the peaceful and positive change in South Africa which we support. They might, rather, foster violence,” a senior Ottawa official said. The Netherlands Cabinet is examining economic pressures, but political sources say it will fall short of banning investment. Dutch banks last month halted sales of South African Krugerrand gold coins.