Britain stands by S.A. peace mission

Press, 21 July 1986, Page 1

Britain stands by S.A. peace mission

NZPA-Reuter London The British Government has stood by the South African peace effort made ■by the Foreign Secretary, Sir Geoffrey Howe, in spite of strong pressure from Commonwealth partners to reverse its position on sanctions.

attempt to achieve a black-white dialogue. Asked about India’s statement that it would not join the boycott if Mrs Thatcher agreed to measures,against Pretoria at a Commonwealth meeting in London next month, the spokesman said she

A spokesman for the Prime Minister, Mrs Thatcher, told Reuters that the growing boycott of the Commonwealth Games had not altered the Government’s resolve to press ahead this week with efforts “to get negotiations going in South Africa.”

had already made her position on sanctions clear. Mrs Thatcher told Parliament on Thursday that she would carry out a European Community accord. which raid further measures on South Africa would be considered if Sir Geoffrey’s mission failed.

. The European Com- <But she insisted that munity is sending Sir such measures would not Geoffrey to South Africa be automatic. tomorrow where he will / Britain holds the presihave talks with President ydency of the Community’s P.W. Botha in a last-ditch / Council of Ministers.

The Foreign Secretary returned at the week-end from Washington after talks with President Reagan and the Secretary of State, Mr Shultz. Before leaving he told reporters that foreign Governments were seeking the right combination of measures to prod South Africa into political reforms. Mrs Thatcher maintains that sanctions do not work but has left open the possibility of imposing “further measures” in concert with the main industrial nations, the spokesman said. Sir Geoffrey today (New Zealand time) will leave Britain for Brussels where he will brief Community Foreign Ministers about his mission’s pro-

gress. The spokesman said the withdrawals from the Games — which will open in Edinburgh on July 24 and have lost about a third of the countries due to participate — would not change Mrs Thatcher’s view on sanctions.

He added, “We are sorry boycotters are indulging in this gesture.” It also would not put an end to apartheid or the Games, he raid. Right-wing supporters of Mrs Thatcher have accused nations boycotting the Commonwealth Games of trying to blackmail Britain, while opponents charged she was to blame for the disarray.

Mrs Thatcher made no comment, and also showed no signs of bowing to the demand by the Zambian President, Mr Kaunda, that she make a “categorical statement” she will impose economic sanctions against South Africa as the price for ending the boycott Mr John Carlisle, a Conservative member of Parliament said Mrs Thatcher “must reinforce her stand not to be blackmailed into any hasty decision or a u-turn.” Another Conservative member, Mr George Gardiner, said “If the Commonwealth is to be nothing more than a blackmailers’ club, perhaps we would do better without it.”

But the Labour Party’s foreign affairs spokesman, said “It has been her actions, her statements and probably most of all, her manner and her style, which have precipitated thiS.”>

The Social Democratic Party leader, Dr David Owen, dismissed charges that the Games boycott was blackmail. “It is a serious and deliberate warning to all of us in Britain, and particularly our Government, that the Commonwealth itself is in grave danger of breaking up,” Dr Owen told a party meeting.