109. Telegram From the Department of State to the Consulate in Cape Town1
64211. Cape Town for Embassy. Subject: Namibia: Proximity Talks. For Ambassador Edmondson from the Secretary. For delivery to Ambassador Edmondson at 6:30 a.m. Friday.
1. Confidential entire text.
2. I would like you to deliver the following personal oral message from me to Foreign Minister Botha at opening of business tomorrow:2
Begin quote
Dear Pik:
I believe that the Proximity Talks may well represent the last chance to obtain a peaceful, internationally acceptable settlement. If we are not to lose this chance, it is imperative that we all meet in New York.
Let me assure you that the talks are for the purpose of reaching an understanding on the implementation of the proposal in order to remove all misunderstandings that could complicate UNTAG’s deployment and operation.3 The talks are designed to discuss implementation of the proposal and not to re-negotiate the proposal.
I and the other Ministers are prepared to meet with all parties from Namibia to discuss implementation of the proposal and I urge you to encourage all the parties in Namibia to go to New York.
At the same time, I cannot stress too strongly my hope that we can move away from continuing public exchanges.
I am looking forward to seeing you in New York. A great deal is at stake in our ability to make these talks succeed. I believe we can.
Warm regards. Cy.
End quote
3. Please add to Foreign Minister Botha that Secretary also looks forward to early private meeting with Botha in New York.
4. Secretary has informed Ambassador Sole that he was sending foregoing message to Botha.
- Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P840148–2346. Confidential; Niact Immediate; Nodis. Drafted by Maynes; cleared by Lake, Moose, and Vance in substance; approved by Vance. Sent for information Immediate to USUN and the White House.↩
- In telegram 609 from Cape Town, March 16, the Embassy transmitted Botha’s reply: “Dear Cy. Thank you for your letter conveyed to me telephonically by Ambassador Edmondson this morning. I assume that you decided on this response after you had had an opportunity of studying my letter despatched to you yesterday in which I stated that the South African Government could not be a party to the re-negotiation of the settle [Page 292] ment proposal. Indeed you agree that the ‘talks are designed to discuss implementation of the proposal and not to re-negotiate the proposal.’ In the meantime I have also despatched my reply to your letter of 13 March 1979. On the basis of these exchanges I am preparing to proceed to New York to participate in the discussions.” (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P840172–1529)↩
- In telegram 61135 to Cape Town, March 13, Vance wrote Botha: “Your government has raised serious substantive issues, which I believe can and must be dealt with promptly. My objective, and I feel sure my four Contact Group colleagues fully share it, will be to use the Proximity Talks as a forum in which these outstanding issues can be resolved, so that UNTAG can be deployed without further delay. I ask you to join with us in that effort, for it remains deeply in the interests of both of our nations that our endeavor succeed.” (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D790115–0424)↩