Anti-Apartheid Movement Anti-Apartheid

ANTI-APARTHEID MOVEMENT ANTI-APARTHEID MOVEMENT MINPTES of the NATIONAL COMMITTEE meeting held at the House of Commons on December 4th, 1962. PREENT: Mrs Barbara Castle, M.P. (chair); R. Ainslie, S. Abdul, G. Berger, R. Ellams, k. Ennals, D. Ennals, G. Hamilton, M. Henry, R. Kunene, F. Levson, P. Plouviez, D. Robinson, M. Singleton, J. Symonds, G. Potter, Rev. Michael Scott, K. Lye, J. Hymans, C. van Gelderen; 9J. Iozonguizi (Sw i) APOLOGIES: K. Asmal, Bob Edwards, M.P., L. Morrison , Harry Nicholas, John Stonehouse, M.P., Miss M. Sykes. 1. MINUTES of the previous National oommittee meeting of October Bth, were agreed, with the following amendment to item 4, para. 3 of the Minutes proposed by Joan Hymans. This paragraph should be replaced by the following; "Joan Hymans criticised the use fot longstanding supporters of the circular letter which thanked new members for joining the Movement. She stated that this was bad public relations, of which she stressed the importance in a newly expanding organisation. She also pointed out, for the same reason, the list of members of the National Committee ought to be in alphabetical order in all publicity; and that the Executive Committee ought not to have a larger number of S.African members than British members if this was supposed to be a British organisation designed to appeal to the British public. Miss Hymans suggested that there should be someone with specific responsibility for watching the public relations aspects of circulars. It was agreed that these suggestions be referred to the Executive Committee.11 2, MATTERS ARISING - were all covered in the agenda. 3. RESIGNATIONS FROM EXECUTIVE COEMITTEE. Mrs, Barbara Castle introduced this item, and said that we had all heard of the necessity for Resalynde Ainslie and David Ennals to resign as Secretary and Chairman, with very great regret. The National Committee's appreciation of all the work they had both pit in to the Anti-Apartheid Movement was warmly expressed. It was proposed that both Ros Ainslie and David Ennals should remain on the Executive as ordinary members, so that their services be still available. It was agreed that a special meeting of the Executive be held immediately after the National Committee for this purpose. Election. 'of Hon. Secretary: The name of Mr. S. Abdul was proposed as the new Honorary Secretary, and agreed by the Committee. Mr. Abdul agreed to act as Hon. Secretary on a temporary basis until a new Secretary could be found. Election of Chairman: In the absence of nominations for Chairman, Mr. David Ennals agreed to continue as Chairman of the Movement until a new Chairman was elected. It was agreed that the Executive Committee could elect its own chairman for meetings. SPonsors: Letters had been sent to all those agreed at the last meeting (with the exception of the Bishop of Blackburn, as a reply was awaited from the Archbishop of Canterbury). r. Harry Nicholas had declined to act as sponsor because of pressure of his other commitments. Replies were awaited from the other suggestions. The following names were proposed and agreed as additional suggestions for sponsors: Canon Rhymes, Mr. Ivor Richards, Mr. Martin Hydleman, and Miss Mary Benson. , Eecive Committee: The resignation of Mr. John Eber from the National and Executive Committees because of the pressure of other work was also reported. Mrs. Sonia Clements was proposed and seconded to fill the vacant seat on the Executive, and this was agreed. National Committee: Twonew members were weomed at this meeting Mr. at LegasSick of NUSAS and Mrs. Cynthia Zukas of the Finchley Anti-Apartbhid C wh h ad been invited to attend as an observer. 2. f 4. FINANCIAL REPORT This was circulated to Committee members at the meeting. Mrs. Castle reported that she had written to Mr. Bernstein of Granada but no reply had been received. Members of the Committee were asked to help in selling tickets for the SuppOrters, Association, which had' just been launched. The report was agreed. 5. REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE The report was circulated to Committee members at the meeting, and agreed. The Chairman reminded Committee members that they should all be members of the AAM and hoped that those who had so far overlooked filling in a membership form would do so very soon. Discussion on Economic Sanctions Resolution passed at the U.N. The discussion was opened by the Rev. Michael Scott, recently from the U.N., who said the voting on the resolution was on almost racial lines, the Scandinavian countries either abstaining or voting against. To follow up the resolution, a proposal had been made that a conference of African states be held, but this had not yet found a sponsor. The Chairman reported that a number of Labour M.P.e hadbeen trying to table Questions on the arms trade, and she herself had asked the P.M. to appoint an inter-departmental oommittee. There was also a Question down for the Kitchen Committee on boycott . In reply to a question from the Chairman Mr. Scott stated that the U.S. and Norwegian delegates to the U.N. General Assembly had both stated that their Governments did not support the sale of arms to S.Africa. David Ennals felt that it had been unfortunate that the resolution had been voted on as a whole, as the section on diplomatic relations might be a stumbling block to its receiving full support from the Labour Party, Jane Symonds reported that the Sanctions Committee had seen Mr. Edward Heath to ask that S.Africa should not in any way be received into the Common Market. Mr. Heath had replied that S.Africa's application was under consideration but that the framing of the whole proposals were difficult. The Chairman reported that the U.N. sanctions resolution had been discussed at some length by the N.E.C. of the Labour Party, and that Mr. Gaitskell was considering a proposal that the Labour Party ask for a half-day debate in the Rouse on S.Afrioa. Rosalynde Ainslie felt that we must consider how best to draw public attention to the U.N. vote, and the position taken by the Western countries on the one side and the Afro-Asian and Communist countries on the other. She suggested the preparation of a briefing for journalists and M.P.s, and a special meeting of the NatiQnal Committee with a view to calling f6r an arms embargo and asking that Britain institute an eqnuiry into how economic sanctions could be effectively applied. Mavis Singleton suggested that the briefing be sent to all Conservative M.P.s, and David Ennals proposed that two or three officers might perhaps arrange to see Mr. Humphrey Berkeley, M.P. at some stage. It was agreed to hold a special meeting of the National Committee and this was referred to the Executive. Jane Symonds reported that the letter to the Japanese Prime Minister about Japan's increasing trade with S.Africa needed two more signatures and would then be sent off. § Mr. Abdul gave a report on the present position - two tennis players. were due in S.A. from Yugoslavia later this month, as was Billy Knight. There had also been reports that the British team from Perth were likely to go on from Australia to S.Africa, and he proposed a letter be sent asking them not to go. Consumer Boycott Joan Hymans suggested that we now use the U.N. resolution as an approach to private firms on the boycott. Mrs. Castle said that she was prepared to sign a letter to Lord Sainsbury. It was agreed that the Executive should consider approaching private firms about boycott, and also the many advertising fiims on oinema cirQuits for S.A. gods. eont'ad.. 3. Political Prisoners Mr. Abdul reported that our letter to the Observer had brought in about 75 replies, and information about those under house arrest had been prepared. About 90 of those who had written in would not seem to have been in touch with us before. One additional suggestion being made was that schools in this country be put in touch with schools in S.Africa. Mrs. Castle proposed that we should send Christmas Cards to all those under house arrest, and offered to get the special House of Commons cards signed by Members of the Parliamentary Labour Party. Trade Unions Rosalynde Ainslie reported that she had received a request from the editor of Forward, a S.Afriean trade union and labour monthly, for an article to counteract the statement made by Edgar Deane after his reported discussions with T.U. leaders in Britain. The suggestion was made that in writing to General Secretaries of Trade Unions we should ask them to deny that they are against the boycott of S.African goods. 6. A.O.B. The question of public relations was raised by Joan Hymens, who referred to a London Area M.C.F. meeting she had attended, where the point had been made that the word 'apartheid' was not understood by the ordinary person. The Secretary referred to the minutes of the E.C. of November 19th at which this question had been discussed. 7. DATE OF NEXT MEETING To be circulated to all Committee members..

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