October 3, 1989 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 23093 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS EVENTS IN SOUTH AFRICA suffer and to risk losing their jobs while THE GALLUP ORGANIZATION, INC., sanctions and boycotts are used against MARKETING AND ATTITUDE RESEARCH, South Africa." Princeton, NJ, August 3, 1989. HON. DAN BURTON Concerning the expected reaction of the Hon. HOWARD WOLPE, OF INDIANA South African government to sanctions im­ Chairman, Subcommittee on Africa, Com­ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES posed by foreign governments, eight in ten mittee on Foreign Affairs, Washington, Tuesday, October 3, 1989 South Africans, including 77% of blacks, DC. think their government will make only a DEAR CHAIRMAN WOLPE: The Gallup poll Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, our few small changes <43%> or no changes of South Africans on the issues of sanctions collective attention is focused these days, as <36%) in its apartheid policy. Only 16% be­ and divestment referred to in your July it should be, on events in South Africa. We lieve sanctions will lead the government to lOth memorandum to Members of the are all, I believe, united in our firm opposition end apartheid. Approximately the same pro­ House of Representatives, was conducted by to apartheid. We all want to see South Africa portion <17%>. see sanctions as a very suc­ the Gallup Organization, Inc. headquar­ move toward a post-apartheid, nonracial, cessful means of changing the apartheid tered in Princeton, New Jersey in conjunc­ policies of South Africa. One-third, on the tion with Markinor, the South African affil· democratic future. But we have a lively debate iate of Gallup International, on behalf of going about the best means to achieve that other hand, including the majority of the South African Chamber of Mines, the goal. whites, believe a policy of sanctions would mining industry trade association. Many of my colleagues support further not be at all successful in this regard. An· I was responsible for overall management sanctions. But the evidence is that sanctions other third believe sanctions can only be of the project including questionnaire devel­ somewhat successful in forcing change. do not work and that further sanctions would opment, sample design and analysis of the Opinion regarding divestment by foreign survey results. I personally share your ab­ inflict great hardship and suffering upon the corporations follows the same pattern as blacks of South Africa. The evidence is over­ horrence of apartheid, and I am certainly that regarding sanctions. Eighty-three per­ aware of the sensitive nature of the project. whelming that blacks of all walks of life in cent think overseas companies should not We have, therefore, taken great care to South Africa are firmly opposed to sanctions leave South Africa because this is not a ensure that the questions were written for these reasons. I commend to my col­ good way to fight apartheid. Sixteen per­ fairly and that the survey method would leagues' attention the executive summary of a cent believe companies should divest be­ produce an accurate representation of black recent Gallup poll of South African blacks, cause the South African government does public opinion in South Africa. I believe we and a letter from the vice president of Gallup not want companies to leave and will be per­ have been successful in both regards. to the chairman of the Africa Subcommittee. suaded to end apartheid if they do. Eight­ Our survey of South Africans, conducted een percent of blacks compared to only 7% in March of this year, indicates strong oppo­ EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF SURVEY FINDINGS of whites agree that divestment will force sition to economic sanctions imposed on <Overall Opinion Concerning the Policies of an end to apartheid. South Africa by foreign governments and Sanctions and Divestment> In fact, the survey shows that South Afri­ equally strong opposition to the idea of for­ A Gallup survey of South Africans con­ cans believe there is an important role to be eign divestment of corporate investment in ducted in March 1989, indicates strong op­ played by foreign corporations operating in South Africa. South Africans overwhelming­ position to economic sanctions imposed on South Africa. A substantial majority <58%> ly believe that sanctions <84%> and divest­ South Africa by foreign governments and of South Africans, including 51% of whites ment (85%> are bad ideas, and blacks and equally strong opposition to the idea of for­ and 59% of blacks, think that American whites are equally likely to hold these views. eign divestment of corporate investment in companies in South Africa can help make The possibility that sanctions and divest­ South Africa. South Africans overwhelming­ the government change away from apart­ ment will lead to higher unemployment and ly believe that sanctions <84%) and divest­ heid. poverty is the reason most frequently given ment <85%> are bad ideas, and blacks and The negative aspect of the withdrawal of for thinking such policies are a bad idea. whites are equally likely to hold these views. an American corporate presence in South Despite the strength of opposition to The possibility that sanctions and divest­ Africa is reflected by the three-quarters, in­ sanctions among blacks there are approxi­ ment will lead to higher unemployment and cluding 84% of whites and 73% of blacks, mately one in six who believe sanctions are poverty is the reason most frequently given who believe ending American business oper­ a good idea. The largest proportion of this for thinking such policies are a bad idea. ations would have a bad effect on the lives group holds this opinion because they be­ Despite the strength of opposition to of blacks in that country. lieve such a policy will pressure their gov­ sanctions among blacks there are approxi­ Nearly three-quarters (73%) think that ernment to abolish apartheid. mately one in six who believe sanctions are ending American business operations would Backing for sanctions is strongest among a good idea. The largest proportion of this seriously hurt the South African economy. blacks who told us they support the ANC group holds this opinion because they be­ This view is more prevalent among blacks (35%> or the UDF (31%>. Support is also lieve such a policy will pressure their gov­ <77%) than among whites (50%). Among greater among blacks who live in urban ernment to abolish apartheid. areas compared to rural (25% vs 12%> and When respondents are posed with a varie­ whites, 45% think such action by American among those who are best informed politi­ ty of scenerios concerning the consequences companies will hurt their economy only a cally compared to those who are less knowl­ of sanctions, the basis for and degree of op­ little. edgeable <30% vs 10%>. But it should also be position to sanctions is evident. Approxi­ While six in ten (60%> think divestment noted that 65% or more of blacks in each of mately six in ten blacks, for example, would will seriously hurt the strength of the these groups say they believe sanctions are oppose all sanctions even if such sanctions South African government, this view is most a "bad idea" <ANC supporters, 65%, UDF might cause the government to resign prevalent among blacks (69%). Whites are supporters, 69%, urban residents, 74%, well within five years. Oppositon increases to more likely to think divestment will effect informed, 70%>. two-thirds of the black population given a the strength of the government only a little Contrary to your assertion that we failed more stringent condition that "many people (42%> or not at all (37%). to permit South Africans to react to or would lose their jobs" is introduced. Majorities of South Africans believe "vote for" conditioned sanctions, that was Given the possibility that the respondent American business activity: contributes to a precisely the point of the survey. You will might lose his or her own job because of higher standard of living for black South see in reviewing the enclosed report of sanctions, more than three-quarters of all Africans <78%>; provides black workers with survey results that we have asked numerous South Africians, including 93% of whites good jobs that would not otherwise exist questions about support for sanctions and and 76% of blacks, would oppose sanctions. <74%>; does not contribute to the misuse of divestment in the real world context of how The negative response to sanctions is also black workers <60%>; does not help to con­ they might affect actions of the South Afri­ evident among the 73% of blacks who dis· tinue racial segregation and discrimination can government and how they might affect agree that non-whites are "prepared to (58%>. the people of South Africa. e This "bullet" symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor. 23094 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS October 3, 1989 When respondents are posed with a varie­ spring of 1988. The field work was sched­ fortunate in this country to become contribut­ ty of scenarios concerning the consequences uled for March 1989, in preparation for re­ ing members of society. of sanctions, the basis for and degree of op­ lease of the results in May. While we could position to sanctions is evident. Approxi­ not have known at the outset that Rev. mately six in ten blacks, for example, would Boesak and Bishop Tutu would visit Wash­ THAT'S THE AMERICAN WAY­ oppose all sanctions even if such sanctions ington in May, release of the results was THAT'S THE FARMER'S WAY might cause the government to resign timed so that an accounting of public opin­ within five years.