377. National Security Action Memorandum No. 330

TO

  • The Secretary of State

SUBJECT

  • Review of U. S. Policy Toward South Africa

The recent action of the Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa in withdrawing his country from the British Commonwealth and the recent action of the UN on Angola have created problems not anticipated in the outstanding national security policy relating to Angola, the Union of South Africa, and the Portuguese possessions in Africa.

The present situation appears to call for a review of the policy and the development of such recommendations for change as you consider appropriate under the new circumstances and in light of the probable future developments. In this connection, it seems to me that we need to have a particular look at the provisions with respect to the encouraging of American private capital to seek investment outlets in South Africa and with respect to the purchase of gold and other raw materials that provide a major source of economic support for the South African economy.1

McGeorge Bundy
  1. Source: Department of State, S/S-NSC Files: Lot 72 D 316, NSAM 33. Secret.
  2. Documentation in Department of State files indicates that Martin Herz of the Bureau of African Affairs was assigned to draft the response to NSAM No. 33, but then notes that a draft prepared by the Bureau of African Affairs in June was unsatisfactory. (Ibid.) On August 3, Samuel Belk transmitted an 11-page Department of State paper, “Guidelines for U.S. Policy Toward the Republic of South Africa,” prepared by Herz, to the President’s Deputy Special Assistant for National Security Affairs, Walt W. Rostow. Calling it a far-above-average paper, Belk recommended that Rostow read the first six pages. He noted, however, that the paper had not been well-received in S/P and was still in the process of being cleared. (Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Africa) A copy of the paper is in the compilation on South Africa in the Supplement.