Louisiana State University LSU Digital Commons LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses Graduate School 1974 American Views on South Africa, 1948-1972. Patrick Henry Martin Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses Recommended Citation Martin, Patrick Henry, "American Views on South Africa, 1948-1972." (1974). LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses. 2622. https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses/2622 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at LSU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses by an authorized administrator of LSU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. INFORMATION TO USERS This material was produced from a microfilm copy of the original document. 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Xerox University Microfilms 300 North Z M b Road Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106 MARTIN, Patrick Henry, 1945- AMERICAN VIEWS ON SOUTH AFRICA, 1948-1972. The Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, Ph.D., 1974 History* modern University Microfilms, A XEROX Company, Ann Arbor, Michigan © 1974 PATRICK HENRY MARTIN ALL RIGHTS RESERVED AMERICAN VIEWS ON SOUTH AFRICA, 19^8-1972 A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in The Department of History by Patrick Henry Martin B.A., Louisiana State University, 19&7 M.A., Louisiana State University, 19^9 J.D. , Duke University, 197*+ May, 197*+ PREFACE In his Cry, the Beloved Country Alan Paton commented that "the world has never let South Africa alone." The present study is one more of a great many works which have been written in recent years on topics related to South Africa; these works give continuing proof to the truth of Paton's statement. In the course of preparing this dissertation I had the very good fortune to receive an appointment to lecture in American history at the University of Natal in Durban, South Africa, for six months. For this I am deeply indebted to K. H. C. McIntyre, the Chairman of the Department of History and Political Science at the University of Natal. Jeffrey Horton, Bill Guest, Andrew Duminy, Michael Spencer, and Tony Lumbey of the same Department assisted me in gaining a better understanding of South African history and were most hospitable to an American family very far from home, I am likewise indebted to many other South Africans for what they revealed to me about their society. South Africa is still a relatively small country, and it was possible for me to meet Prime Minister B. J. Vorster and Chief Gatsha Buthelezi, and to see and hear other prominent political figures. Many South Africans were more than willing to tell me as much as they could about their country.' 1 Newsmen discussed their activities and gave me access to the clippings files of their newspaper. A Xhosa tribesman who lived in Idutywa described landholding and tribal authority to me in the Transkei. A ii student took me to visit the Cato Manor magistrate's court so that I could learn more ahout the administration of justice in South Africa. A retired Afrikaner psychologist gave me a personal tour of the Voortrekker Monument. These and many other acts of kindness contri­ buted directly and indirectly to this study and made me understand why Paton called it the beloved country. I would also like to acknowledge the assistance of John Preston Moore with whom I began this study, David H. Culbert who assumed the responsibility for advising me after the retirement of Professor Moore, and John Loos, Chairman of the History Department of Louisiana State University. Appreciation must be expressed, too, for the cooperation given me by officials at various pro- and anti- South Africa organizations including the South Africa Foundation, the South African Information Service, the American-African Affairs Association, the American Committee on Africa, the Southern Africa Committee, and the Council for Christian Social Action of the United Church of Christ, Some of these officials were understandably re­ luctant to reveal their activities to an inquisitive researcher of unknown political views, but they did provide valuable information which I have acknowledged in greater detail in my footnotes. I have also acknowledged in the footnotes the assistance of a number of newspapers which sent me, in response to my request, copies of the editorials they printed at the time of the Sharpeville crisis in South Africa in i960. The pursuit of my topic took me to several libraries where librarians were helpful in finding materials relating to South Africa. iii These included the libraries at Louisiana State University, Luke University, the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill), North Carolina Central University, and the University of Natal, the Philadelphia Free Library, and the New York City Public Library. Finally, I wish to express my deepest gratitude to my wife, Kay, for her patience, assistance, and typing, and to my son, Patrick, who showed consideration and understanding to a busy father. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE .............................. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................... V ABSTRACT ................................................... vii INTRODUCTION ............................................... 1 PART I. CRITICAL VIEWS AND THE MOVEMENT FOR ACTION AGAINST SOUTH AFRICA CHAPTER I. SOUTH AFRICAN POLITICS AND POLICIES: SYMBOL OF OPPRESSION ................................ 16 II. SOUTH AFRICA, UNITED STATES RACE RELATIONS, AND THE AMERICAN IMAGE ABROAD ........................ 51 III. THE NEW AFRICA AND THE SOUTH AFRICAN RACE WAR ............................................ 87 IV. THE MOVEMENT FOR AMERICAN ACTION AGAINST SOUTH AFRICAN APARTHEID ............................. 108 PART II. THE DEVELOPMENT OF AMERICAN VIEWS MORE FAVORABLE TO SOUTH AFRICA V. EFFORTS TO IMPROVE SOUTH AFRICA'S IMAGE: PIERCING THE PAPER CURTAIN .......................... IT1* VI. SOUTH AFRICA'S AMERICAN FRIENDS ..................... 213 A. THE ANTI-COMMUNIST ALLY ...................... 2lU B. THE OTHER LAAGER ............................. 233 C. THE ONLY REAL INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX SOUTH OF MILAN .......................... 255 v VII. CONCLUSION .......................................... 277 BIBLIOGRAPHY ................................................ 292 VITA ....................................................... 315 vi ABSTRACT Since the Nationalist Party gained political control in South Africa in 19^8, the South African government has been criticized for its policy of apartheid (or separate development) by nearly every country in the world. Many countries have endorsed the use of economic sanctions or other measures against South Africa. Except for implementing an arms embargo, the United States has opposed the use of collective measures to bring about change in South Africa. It is the purpose of this study to develop the reasons why some Americans in the 1960s came to believe that the United States should take strong action against South Africa, to discuss the views of other Americans who opposed such actions, and to examine various factors affecting American views on South Africa. Source material for this study in­ cluded news magazines, journals of opinion and reportage, newspapers, books, Congressional hearings, brochures and pamphlets of organizations both hostile and favorable to South Africa, publications of the South African government, and personal interviews. After an introduction which suggests