AF files, lot 58 D 459, “Miscellaneous”
The Consul General at Salisbury (Sims) to the Officer in Charge of West, Central, and East Africa Affairs (Feld)
official informal personal
Dear Nick: Thank you for your letter of May 5,1 which contained a very interesting analysis of the Capetown conference recommendation concerning a Native Affairs Officer for this part of the world.
I agree wholeheartedly with you that Bill Brown is the premier choice for this type of work but I am unable to go along with the proposal that Bill undertake the mission for one year only. African Nationalism is not going to lie down and die after the expiration of one year. On the contrary there is every indication that it will grow and grow. Consequently, while Bill would make some great contributions to understanding this problem it would be a shame to discontinue the work after only one year. In all frankness I am somewhat surprised to learn that the Department is not willing to accord greater consideration to the Conference’s recommendation on this matter. After all, it is not the proposal of one officer but the consensus of all officers (with the possible exception of Don Lamm) South of the Zambesia that this is a paramount need in this area.
While I agree with your analysis of the situation as existing in the Union, I am inclined to believe that any study of Native developments must include the Union as it is there that the spark of blind Nationalism may ignite spreading to the Rhodesias and other neighboring territories. While it is true that Apartheid is unworkable, it is also true that our people in the Union have very little contact with the Native leaders and are completely dependent on white sources for their information as to what is really happening among the Native elements. Even the USIS group work only with the white elements which I always thought were already on the Free World side. Insofar as I can learn USIS is making no headway in reaching the Natives who are over-ripe for communism.
Our stake in this part of Africa is surely sufficiently important to [Page 22] warrant the small expenditure necessary to support one full time position in an endeavor to learn what goes on inside the Native mind.
Let me say that we shall be happy with any arrangement you make to meet this problem but I urge you to give full consideration to providing some arrangement which will be a continuing one rather than a temporary one.
All the best,
As ever,