LETTERS A case for sanctions
Sir: Let me say that I agree wholeheartedly With the sentiments expressed in Bruce Anderson's article (Politics, 19 July). Of course we are all thoroughly bored with the hypocrisy of the New Commonwealth, especially India's, where caste, family and colour of skin are still of no mean import- ance. But I must disagree with Mr Ander- son's conclusion.
De Gaulle once said, 'States worthy of the name do not have friends, only in- terests.' South Africa was once a friend: she provided men for two world wars (though the young P.W. Botha was an active Nazi sympathiser). But no longer. It is no longer in our interests to be associ- ated with the present regime. Of course sanctions are a nonsense. But that is not the point. What is important is that we are seen to be 'doing the right thing'. That sanctions — sacrosanctions, I prefer to call them — won't do an iota of good is irrelevant. Once sanctions are 'enforced' the liberals will be able to say, At least we tried.'
But, more important, black South Afri- cans will think we tried too. And here is Where Britain's long-term interests come in. In plain terms, 50 years from now SA Will be black-ruled — a despotism maybe, but that is no concern of ours as long as it is stable. So let us not alienate South Africa's future rulers. The ANC has repeatedly called for sanctions; we must heed them soon.
At this point P.W.'s friends will fall back Oil the 'but the ANC is communist' argu- ment. This is not wholly true, for it is important to distinguish between overtly Marxist organisations and Marxist- dominated ones. Unlike the former, the latter's raison d'être is not the institution of a communist state, so they can be won back to our side . . . by recognition and sPonsorship (well done, FO). The plea that the ANC is a terrorist outfit is bogus. The word 'terrorist' is a value judgment and should be omitted from rational discussion. (Let me illustrate: Islamic Jihad fighters are 'terrorists' in Beirut yet 'freedom fight- ers in Afghanistan. The difference? Only that the latter are on 'our side'.) Thus if ANC members were to become pro- Western and right-wing they, too, would overnight become 'freedom fighters' as well. The way to achieve this is through limited sanctions and tacit support for the ANC. This would increase our leverage over them, thereby taking over what are alleged to be the Russian puppet-master's strings, and further encouraging them to use peaceful methods. The transfer of power in SA will occur in our lifetimes. The question is therefore as follows: do we want to have some say in that transfer, or are we merely going to sit huffily on the sidelines while our enemies manipulate it to their own advantage?
Douglas Munro 102 Raeburn Place, Edinburgh
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