Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume XXI, Africa

426. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in South Africa⁰

Washington, December 10, 1963, 6:14 p.m.

730. Embtel 707.¹ You may inform Acting Secretary Uys or appropriate FonOff official of following: 1. that the seven day transit visa with multiple entry as set forth reftel meets needs Haynes official trip. 2. Department pleased abandonment attempted restrictions on full rights of our diplomatic agents re entry, free transit and customary privileges and immunities for conduct business with High Commission Territories and offices at Pretoria and Mafeking.

Request Embassy forward copy of South African laws and regulations on transit and visitors visas with any comments Embassy has on this case as precedent. South African Embassy Counselor here previously informed Department that normal transit visa limited three days.

Please clarify the meaning of sentence in reftel. “His visa would be amended at Jan Smuts if necessary.” Haynes passport is stamped with diplomatic transit visa without any indication of time limit.²

Rusk

0. Source: Department of State, Central Files, ORG 7 AF. Confidential. Drafted by Hooper, cleared by Cahn, and approved by Hooper. Also sent to Nairobi for Williams.
1. Telegram 707, December 7, reported that the South African Government was prepared to issue Haynes a transit visa in accordance with international practice and had expressed the hope that the United States would cooperate by using an Embassy plane. (Ibid.)
2. On December 30, Satterthwaite reported that Haynes’ visit to the High Commission Territories had concluded successfully and without incident. (Telegram 769; ibid.)