the Anti- Movement the Anti-Apartheid Movement 89 Charlotte Street London W1 580 5311 CONFIDENTIAL MINUTES of NATIONAL COMMITTEE MEETING held on Saturday 7 September 1968 at the Conway Hall Red Lion Square WC1 PRESENT: S. Abdul, Brian Blancharde (Bournemouth AAM), Alan Brooks, Sonia Bunting, P. Cohen (Hampstead AAM), Mick Cornish (Fabian Society), Idris Cox, Caroline de Crespigny, Khalid Dar, Anne Darnborough, Terry Davies (ULS), John Ennals (CHMAIPRAN), Martin Ennals (Amnesty), , Polly Gaster (C'ttee for Freedom in Mozambique), Walter Hain, Peter Hellyer, Joan Hymens (MCF & BOSF), Peter Jones (Wembley/ Harrow AM), Ethel de Keyser, Raymond Kunene, Gus Macdonald, Douglas Marchant, A.P. O'Dowd, Vella Pillay, E. Ramsdale (CPC), Margaret Richards (Finchley & Friern Barnet AAM), Max Rosenbaum (Hampstead AAMi), Stephanie Sachs, Dave Shipper, Nancy White, Margaret Wyncoll (NLYL). APOLOGIES: Mrs Whawell (Nottingham AAi), Mercy Edgedale (Africa Bureau), Michael Barnes MP, Joan Lestor MP, Andrew Faulds MP, Diana Rosenbaum (Hampstead AAM), Bob Davidson, Les Parrington (Merseyside AAM), Bert Brown (ASTMS), Lord Collison, Jonathan Rosenhead, Peter Katjavivi (S-4PO). 1) MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 29 JUNE Under PRESENT . add Dave Shipper. The minutes as amended were agreed. 2) MATTERS ARISING Ethel de Keyser reported: Radical Students Alliance that the Radical Students Alliance had agreed to join the National Committee as an Organisation member withobserverstatus.. . South African Propaganda : that a letter giving details of the visit to this country of three South African members of parliament and three journalists, was sent to approximately 500 MPs urging that e.very effort be made to have the invitations withdrawn. A number of MPs had written to the Foreign Secretary to this effect and had sent copies of their letters to the office. A letter had also been received from the Foreign Office, in which it was stated that such visits provided "opportunities for those individuals invited to gain a closer knowledge and understanding of the United Kingdom and of British views and policies, and incidentally to face straight talking from various sections of British opinion .... " It also appeared from the letter that Dr Koornhof would not be part of the delegation. INCENTIVE/68 : that a letter had been sent to Sir Giles Guthrie, Chairman of BOAC, protesting about the pro-South African article in the May issue of this journal. Sir Giles had replied that he could not accept our protest nor agree to the suggestion that a fuller and more thorough publication of the issues involved in be printed. Letters had also been sent to the Minister of Transport and to Ian Mikardo MP, who had written to say that he was making enquiries and would write again. John Ennals mentioned the report in the CAPE iARGUS of 24 August of a speech by Vorster at Vereeniging in which he made frequent reference to the Anti-Apartheid Movement as "bedevilling relations between Britain and South Africa." It was felt that this was a tribute to the work of the Movement. The SUNDAY TELEGRAPH had done a story on it.

- 2 - 3) FINANCE The Treasurer reported that the financial position was, as usual, difficult. For the three months June/July/August, income for the period was £1705.7.6, expenditure E1862.1.0, leaving a deficit of £156.13.6. He said that we were in urgent need of money. Two fund-raising events were planned,- a jumble sale and concert on October 26 and a larger project, the plans for which had not yet been finalised. He asked for ideas from those present. Mr Jones said that the Wembley/Harrow Branch were organising a fund -raising occasion on October 4 - a folk concert in Wembley and it was proposed to give most of the proceeds to the Movement. The chairman vielcomed the representative of the new Viembley/Harrow Branch to the meeting. 4) ,MNTJL REPORT Abdul drew attention to the first page of the Annual Report, which referred to the fact that by 26 June 1969 the Movement would have been campaigning for ten years, and asked for ideas for specific activities during the coming year, particularly on March 21 and June 26 Anne Darnborough said she would like to see an addendum to the Report before the AGM which discussed the changed situation in which we were working in this country, the problems posed by the growing racial tension. After lengthy discussion it was agree that the President should make special mention of this aspect in his opening speech to the AGM. ... Idris Cox suggested that the Annual Report should contain a report on the work of the Natnoii Committee and include a record of attendance of members. Ethel de Keyser said that this could be done quite easily and the chairman suggested thatthis be included in future Annual Reports. 5) (a) ANINUU1 GENEPAL MEETING October 20 Max Rosenbaum referred to the letter sent by the Hampstead Committee suggesting that the AGM be held somewhat later, There was a lengthy discussion on the proposals put forward by Hampstead for democratisation of the procedures involved in election of the 30 individual members of the National Committee. It was felt that voting should be open to all members of the Movement and the question of a postal vote was discussed. The Oonstitution stated that the 30 individual members should be elected at the AGM, which was open to all members although normally only about 250 J ,people attended. Vella Pillay proposed that the present procedure should remain uxckanged, and this was seconded and a . Dave Shipper proposed that although it was too late to do anything in time for the coming AGM, a notice be put in. AA NEW$ asking members for their views and suggestions on this. Brian Blancharde seconded this proposal...... Sonia Bunting agreed that this should be done but in a newsletter rather than the newspaper. Vella Pillayts proposal as amended by Dave Shipper and Sonia Bunting was agreed. Abdul reported that the sub-committee set up to look into the question of voting by affiliate strength had decided against this proposal. On the question of membership of local committees and of the national Movement, the sub-committee had felt that the situation should remain as at present but that local committees should be asked to furnish a list of their members to head office to check against the membership list, and that anyone who was not a member of the national Movehent should be written to and requested to join. This was agreed.

-3 The chairman welcomed Polly Gaster to the National Committee as representative of the Committee for Freedom in Mozambique. Sonia Bunting asked if any decision had been made about putting back the dte of the AGM as requested by Hampstead. It was generally felt that this would be impossible at this late stage and this decision was accepted. Agenda for AGM The tentative agenda was put forward as follows: -Morning : Statement by President Financial Report Secretarial Report Discussion and-questions on Annual Report 3 or 4 speakers on different aspects of activity as submitted in resolutions. Lunch and elections Afternoon Discussion on fields of ativity Election announcement Short statement by President summarising discussion 5.15 : National Committee meeting to elect-Executive Committee. Joan Hymans asked how resolutions would be taken to avoid duplication of discussion. The cha~irman stated that policy resolutions would be dealt *with before -.nd after lunch; and then on to resolutions dealing with activities. (b) KWNRIGHTS COINFEIUECE ,October 19 The chairman gave details of this conference, which would be held at the Africa Centre 38 King Street -172, from 10 am to 5,30 Pm, and hoped that as many orgamisations as possible would send delegates, particularly those affiliated to the Movement. He reported that ASTMS had -greed to send a delegate. Ethel de Keyser reported that a detailed plan of the conference would be circulated during the following week. Dave Shipper felt that some form of social evening should be planned for the Saturday evening in order that deleg tes from out of town could meet the officers of the Movement. It was agreed to look into this suggestion. 6) ANTI-APaRTHEID C01,ITTEES (a) Alan Brooks reported on his tour of Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham, where the Committees had almost entirely disintegrated but the position was not hopeless. Most of the people he met were sympathetic to the AAM but heavily engaged in other activities. He felt that the prospects were good for reactivating these committees, which were in very important areas, if contact could be maintained. The chairman said that special efforts should be made to get these committees to send representatives to the AGM. It was felt that accommodation should be found for these delegates. Dave Shipper suggested that a conference should be organised from London and then handed over to the people in these areas to follow through. He felt it was important that anti-apartheid activity was maintained in these areas to counter the increase in official South African activity there. (b) Gus Macdonald had been looking into the question of local committees and had concluded that where a committee had folded, time should not be spent in trying to revive it. W7e should rather have a reliable contact in each area who could organise members there when needed. He suggested a campaign caravan to tour the provinces, spending about a month in each major area. It was generally felt that these suggestions were good and that they should be looked into. Ruth First suggested that an 'ideas committee', consisting of experts in different fields, be set up to advise the office on specific activities. It was decided to leave this suggestion until the 4,nnual Conference. P,

(c) Brian Blancharde, who had recently resigned" as Secretary of the Bournemouth A Co mittee as he .,,s le-ving the country, gave an interesting and lively report on the activities of this Committee sinqe its formation. He suggested for future activities: a national congress of- A Committees (Bournemouth had excellent facilities for this); a travelling exhibition of life under apartheid; a Southern Region AVIl Conference amd seminar. 7) MCC TOUR OF SOUTH -RDC DOLLVEIVS EOLJUION Abdul reported that a statement had been issued immediately we heard that D'Oliveira had been excluded. A petition was sent out to members for signature and the office had been in touch with David Sheppard ond others working on this issue. It was suggested that members start a dialogue in the local press or get an article placed. There was no time to discuss this in detail but members were asked to let the office know what they were doing and what they thought we should be doing. 8) 'r O=I~ Busi-ss Sonia Bunting reported that a decree had been issued by the Lesotho Government to the effect: that nil political refugees must leave the country by 30 September or they 7ould be 2returd to South Africa; and suggested that other organisations should raise this with the Lesotho High Commissioner or with the Prime Minister, because only British public opinion could affect this within the next few weeks. Ethel de Keyser said h,,, ahe offiae hd alreadyv-ontact the Lesotho High Commissioner and that we would seek a meeting with him to discuss this matter.