Skip to content

July 10, 1985

Letter from UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to South African President P.W. Botha

This document was made possible with support from Leon Levy Foundation

10 DOWNING STREET

 

THE PRIME MINISTER

10 July, 1985

 

Dear Mr. President, [written]

 

Thank you for your letter of 5 July. I shall reply with equal frankness.

 

Yes, it is my Government’s policy to combat terrorism wherever it may occur. My letter to you of 4 July made clear that we oppose violence whoever is responsible for it. But this does not lead us to condone an attack on a neighbouring state, in which innocent people, including children, were killed and injured.

 

You mention the IRA. There has, as you know, been a continuing series of terrorist incidents in Northern Ireland in which some 2000 soldiers, policemen, prison wardens, and ordinary citizens have lost their lives. What would the international community think if Britain retaliated by launching attacks across the border into the Irish Republic, where many of the terrorists are? Rather we believe that close co-operation with the Irish authorities is the best way and indeed essential to the eventual defeat of the IRA.

 

As far as the attitude of Botswana is concerned, I can only say that President Masire, in a personal message to me, expressed his indignation at the attack. He also asked for our support at the United Nations and more widely for what he described as an unprovoked act of aggression. The fact that his Government has been ready to meet with you at regular intervals, and is even now prepared to resume the discussions interrupted by the raid, merely strengthens my view that this problem could and should have been resolved by diplomacy rather than by force.

 

I have to say, therefore that your perception of this episode is not shared in this country. The impact on our bilateral relations has been thoroughly unfortunate and this at a time when Britain, almost alone in the international community, is attempting to resist pressure for economic measures against South Africa. This is why I was dismayed by your action and why I said that any further attack of this kind would leave us with no choice but to take specific steps to mark our repudiation of it.

 

Yours sincerely [written]

Margaret Thatcher [signature]

 

 

The Honourable P.W. Botha, D.M.S.

 

Letter from Margaret Thatcher to South African State President P.W. Botha, decrying the attacks made on Botswana by South Africa, after Britain had made it clear that it could not support South Africa if it continued in those attacks. Implies that Britain will have to cease its support to South Africa.

Author(s):



Related Documents

June 12, 1985

Letter from South African President P.W. Botha to US President Ronald Reagan

Letter from South African State President P. W. Botha to Ronald Reagan, which discusses South Africa's relations with Mozambique and Mozambique's move away from the Soviet Union. Argues that the West is not supplying enough economic and technical assistance to Mozambique or South Africa, and says that more aid will be necessary to help dissuade foreign interests from depleting the countries' resources.

July 4, 1985

Letter from UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to South African President P.W. Botha

Letter from Margaret Thatcher to South African State President P. W. Botha, condemning South African attacks on Angola and Gaborone, and warning of some sort of response by Britain should they continue. Also notes that Britain has offered to provide military training to Mozambique via Zimbabwe.

September 6, 1985

Letter from US President Reagan to South African President P.W. Botha

Letter from Ronald Reagan to South African State President P. W. Botha, urging Botha to take action to bring peace to South Africa, so that the United States may more effectively assist South Africa in the region. Asserts that talks about race and leadership in South Africa need to be conducted with figures currently imprisoned. Reagan writes that he will veto most of the legislation currently moving through Congress.

October 31, 1985

Letter from UK Prime Minister Thatcher to South African President P.W. Botha

Letter from Margaret Thatcher to South African State President P. W. Botha describing how Thatcher had to defend South Africa at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting from economic sanctions. She emphasizes the need for South Africa to show improvement and let foreign officials into the country within the next six months to avoid economic sanctions eventually being imposed.

November 8, 1985

Cover letter from South African Foreign Minister Pik Botha to US Secretary of State George Shultz

Letter from South African Foreign Minister R. F. "Pik" Botha to U.S. Secretary of State George Schultz contesting American arguments against supporting UNITA.

November 12, 1985

Letter from South African President P.W. Botha to UK Prime Minister Thatcher

Letter from South African State President to Margaret Thatcher, thanking her for her support at the meeting of Commonwealth heads, but stating South Africa's objection to the intervention by foreign delegations. He argues that this would give South Africa an ultimatum and disrupt the ongoing internal negotiations.

November 17, 1985

Letter from UK Prime Minister Thatcher to South African President P.W. Botha

Letter from Margaret Thatcher to South African State President P.W. Botha, expressing her disappointment and anxiety over South Africa's refusal to cooperate with the Commonwealth group. Encourages South Africa not to publicize their refusal, and notes quite plainly that British assistance will be lost if South Africa continues down this path.

December 14, 1985

Letter from UK Prime Minister Thatcher to South African President P.W. Botha

Letter from Margaret Thatcher to State President P.W. Botha, noting that the Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group (designated by the Commonwealth meeting earlier that year to observe and instruct the South African government) seems agreeable and would like to travel to South Africa in January. She urges Botha to be cooperative.

January 9, 1986

Letter from UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to South African President P.W. Botha

Letter from Margaret Thatcher to South African State President P.W. Botha expressing her appreciation for how cooperative he has been with the Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group, and urging him to continue. Notes that a successful speech and a positive meeting with the Group will significantly alter international opinion toward South Africa and greatly reduce the likelihood of eventual economic sanctions.

Document Information

Source

Available via margaretthatcher.org/archive. Included in "Southern Africa in the Cold War, Post-1974," edited by Sue Onslow and Anna-Mark Van Wyk.

Rights

The History and Public Policy Program welcomes reuse of Digital Archive materials for research and educational purposes. Some documents may be subject to copyright, which is retained by the rights holders in accordance with US and international copyright laws. When possible, rights holders have been contacted for permission to reproduce their materials.

To enquire about this document's rights status or request permission for commercial use, please contact the History and Public Policy Program at HAPP@wilsoncenter.org.

Original Uploaded Date

2013-10-24

Type

Letter

Language

Record ID

118365

Donors

Leon Levy Foundation