421. Memorandum From Secretary of State Rusk to President Kennedy0
SUBJECT
- Security Council Meeting on South Africa
Enclosed is a paper1 which describes the approach we plan to take in the forthcoming Security Council meeting on the problem of apartheid in South Africa. This policy has been developed in close consultation with Ambassador Stevenson.
We propose to continue opposing mandatory sanctions and to indicate clearly the limits of UN measures which we think appropriate to deal with the problem. At the same time, in order to show our continuing concern about apartheid and to help deflect support from a more radical resolution, we would be prepared to interpret our existing policy on arms restrictions to include an embargo on materials used primarily in the production of arms and ammunition. The Norwegians have developed such a proposition; Governor Stevenson will be working with them and other Council members to obtain a resolution satisfactory to us. In addition, we would be prepared to accept a suitable version of an expert committee to study the South African problem.