120.4345A/3–1452: Telegram

The Ambassador in the Union of South Africa ( Gallman ) to the Department of State

secret

32. Part one.

I feel that three-day conf held Capetown eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth (Deptel 191, March 31), with participation diplomatic and consular officers from Union, Salisbury and Lourenco Marques was highly constructive and threw much light on principal problems confronting this area. All participants contributed ably with candor and keen sense appreciation situation southern Africa.2

I opened conf stressing need for perfecting plan for maximum interchange info and coordination work. I referred to importance attached to mission here as stressed in Dept discussions preliminary to my departure last Sept and that our needs for funds, personnel and [Page 5] facilities cld only be appreciated in Wash on basis of our giving Dept full picture of conditions under which we are working.

All participating officers ably presented problems confronting Amer interests in their respective fields and outlined manner in which others cld assist.

Cols Davis and Bland portrayed scope and effects political intrusion into South Africa armed forces.

Parsons emphasized need for additional courier services, more frequent visits of officers between consular establishments, respects in which reporting from subordinate consulates cld support and strengthen reporting supervisory consulate general, effect of delayed assignment personnel on operating efficiency his office and steps taken for guidance to subordinate consulates. Sims covered underlying forces supporting opposing federation, complexity Rhodesian racial problems, need for assignment roving regional officer primarily concerned with native problem south of Sahara, need for econ officer commensurate with importance US Attaches to Rhodesian strategic minerals and area receptivity to constructive USIE program.

Lamm stressed need for periodic visit mineral’s officer Johannesburg, complexity Mozambique racial and transport problems.

Stone dealt with difficulties lack Amer secretary and funds for maintenance custody govt-owned properties, and need for more central location USIE library accessible Cape coloreds.

Seddicum pictured Indian conflict with natives and Europeans, Communism in Indian organizations and European-Indian opposition implementation group areas act in natal.

Robison dealt with port congestion and important Amer capital investment, particularly in motor industry, Port Elizabeth. Session on admin and consular questions approved centralization three protectorates in Johannesburg district, survey US leased facilities Capetown by Cairo security officer, and guard detail for Chancery security, in absence suitable quarters Pretoria and Capetown.

Sweeney penetratingly analyzed conflict between Afrikaner and Black African nationalism with impact on Africa south of Sahara and susceptibility resulting tensions to Commie intrusion. He elaborated need for collating info previously submitted on native problem from entire area south of Sahara through research project, assignment specially qualified roving officer on native problem within this area and policy planning staff guidance to meet potential eventualities, stressing lack contact with native and non-European leaders throughout area.

Birch analyzed major aspects South Africa industrialization and limitations posed by inadequacies of water, transport, skilled labor, capital, and emphasized Union’s efforts achieve greater national self-sufficiency. [Page 6] He praised consular contributions to requirements and econ reports.

Chartrand reviewed scope, targets, effectiveness USIE exchange persons and info programs and needs for USIE program Durban mobile unit, suitable office Johannesburg and support for USIE program Salisbury.

Frisbie described utilization individual strategic materials in war effort and impact thereon if South Africa sources not available, and need for potential mineral survey Rhodesias and additional personnel and funds to cover extensive area assigned.

Full report fols by air.3

Part two.

Fol constitutes summary conf recommendations:

1.
Assignment qualified officer with [apparent garble] experience cover native affairs with special attention devoted rising nationalism throughout area south Sahara. Such officer wld coordinate present loose coverage this all-important subj. He wld have roving assignment and headquarters shld be centrally located. Preparatory such assignment Dept undertake basic research study African nationalism this area as guide. Furthermore, that policy planning staff provide field guidance this subj.
2.
More adequate funds, deputy and Amer clerk be provided enable mineral’s officer discharge increased responsibilities in adjacent areas and Union in view growing importance strategic minerals these areas.
3.
Assignment labor attaché and additional junior econ officers for Emb and Salisbury in view increased activity and importance to US of labor and econ fields.
4.
Strengthening security Chancery premises Pretoria and Capetown, including assignment security guard detail. Security ConGen Capetown requires assignment Amer clerk.
5.
Improvements to USIE physical facilities Johannesburg, Capetown and Durban and appointment librarian Capetown. Extension USIE facilities to Rhodesias.
6.
Adequate courier service requires establishment courier based Johannesburg to service Union, Lourenco Marques and Salisbury plus increased service from Paris and Cairo to three trips monthly on which couriers wld proceed only to Johannesburg. Also provision for more frequent travel for Emb and Consular officers within area to supplement regular courier service.
7.
Deterioration govt owned properties requires sending FBO rep to Union soonest for purposes survey and rehabilitation properties.
8.
Authorizing central fiscal office Johannesburg make suballotments fiscal year basis of funds for operating expenses consular establishments.
9.
Reapportionment consular districts to include all high commission territories under ConGen Johannesburg.

[Page 7]

As Dept will see from full report of conf, sometime wld be needed adequately to analyze and evaluate wealth of info made available and to formulate suggestions based on it. Because of nature of much that was brought out in this conf, I strongly favor holding another conf within six or seven months. Breadth of discussions accentuated need expanding scope future confs to representation from all offices south Sahara.

We all regretted no one from Dept able to attend and hope Dept will be represented next conf.

Gallman
  1. Not printed; in it the Department approved the dates and agenda for the proposed consular conference at Capetown and suggested a few additional points for discussion at the conference. (120.4345A/2–1152)
  2. The conference was formally designated the Consular and Administrative Conference at Capetown, Union of South Africa, Mar. 11–13, 1952. The following officers participated in the conference:

    • Waldemar J. Gallman, Ambassador to the Union of South Africa
    • Col. John J. Davis, Military Attaché at the Embassy in the Union of South Africa (Pretoria)
    • Col. E. A. Bland, Jr., Air Attaché at the Embassy in the Union of South Africa (Pretoria)
    • Marselis C. Parsons, Jr., Supervisory Consul General, Johannesburg
    • Harold Sims, Consul General, Salisbury
    • Donald W. Lamm, Consul, Lourenco Marques
    • John F. Stone, Consul General, Capetown
    • Paul C. Seddicum, Consul, Durban
    • Harold D. Robison, Consul, Port Elizabeth
    • Joseph Sweeney, Attaché at the Embassy in the Union of South Africa (Capetown)
    • John A. Birch, Commercial Attaché at the Embassy in the Union of South Africa (Capetown)
    • Chester R. Chartrand, Public Affairs Officer, Pretoria
    • Bryan R. Frisbie, Minerals Officer, Johannesburg
    • David A. Robertson, First Secretary of Embassy, Pretoria

  3. The full report of the Capetown conference was transmitted to the Department as despatch 90, Apr. 18, 1952, from Capetown. The report comprised 106 pages. (120.4345A/4–1852)