234. Telegram From the Department of State to the Consulate in Cape Town1
124702. Cape Town for Embassy. Subject: Rhodesia: Secretary’s Reply to Message from Muzorewa.
1. Confidential (Entire text)
2. The following is Secretary Vance’s reply on behalf of President Carter to Bishop Muzorewa’s message of May 10.2 It should be delivered to Rhodesian rep as soon as possible. Department does not plan to publish text but will confirm that a response has been sent.
3. Begin text: Dear Bishop Muzorewa:
Your message of May 10 has been forwarded to President Carter, who has asked me to reply on his behalf. The President and I, too, have watched with concern and dismay the tragic conflict in your country. The violence not only has brought untold suffering to the people of Rhodesia and its neighbors, but also poses a threat to the security and stability of the entire region.
While we remain ready to continue our role as a mediator with absolute neutrality among the parties to the conflict, we must all recognize that it is the parties themselves who ultimately hold in their hands the decisions that will determine whether Rhodesia’s future will be one of peace and harmony, or will be filled with further violence and bloodshed.
As you are aware, President Carter is obliged by U.S. law3 to make a determination on the commitment of the Rhodesian administration to good faith negotiations and on the nature and conduct of the recent Rhodesian elections. He has pledged to do so faithfully no later than two weeks after the new administration is installed, based on his personal assessment of all the information available to him. I would stress that we remain convinced of the continuing need for a process that can lead to a broader agreement among the parties and an end to the [Page 690] war. I am convinced that this is what the people of Rhodesia most earnestly desire and most urgently deserve.
In the days and weeks ahead, my government will be giving renewed thought and attention to how we can help to make that shared goal a reality. I hope and trust that you and other members of the new administration in Salisbury will urgently do the same, and that it will be possible for us to continue our communication with you as part of our dialogue with all of the parties. Sincerely, Cyrus Vance. End text.
- Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D790222–0436. Confidential; Immediate; Exdis. Drafted by Eugene D. Schmiel (AF/S) and George R. Moose (AF/S); cleared by R. Moose, Jackson, Lake, Wisner, and Funk; approved by Vance.↩
- In telegram 1116 from Cape Town, May 10, the Embassy transmitted a message to Carter in which Muzorewa requested the immediate removal of sanctions and recognition of the Zimbabwe-Rhodesia Government. Muzorewa said that further delay would only increase the death toll in the ongoing war. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P840172–1469)↩
- Reference is to the Case-Javits Amendment.↩