78-10-B2
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South Africa
TranscriptWe have a lot of people in our land who like to take a hand in creating foreign policy. They are 'diplomats without portfolio.' I'll be right back. It's the right of every American to have opinions, to express them and when the occasion warrants to urge our public officials to take action based on such opinions. We can all criticize our national policies and suggest changes. We can vote against elected officials who refuse to heed our suggestions but whether is private citizen or public servant, we can't have our own foreign policy and privately establish our own international relations. The U.S. maintains trade and diplomatic relations with South Africa. South Africans have fought beside Americans in two world wars. It is true, however, that most Americans find South Africa's policy of apartheid repugnant and hope very much that those South Africans who share our repugnance will strive until they succeed in righting what we perceive to be a great wrong. Some Americans think we should end our friendship with South Africa refuse to allow American business to set up branches there and simply ostracize South Africa until it meets our own standards of racial tolerance, but since we've only recently achieved our present level of tolerance and have a fresh memory of an America where intolerance, bigotry and prejudice were fairly widespread isn't it possible that we could be more helpful. A friendly America acting with understanding and compassion based on our own experience could be of more help in resolving apartheid than we could by turning our back. A black journalist recently returning from a visit to South Africa told me of American industries there who were showing the way in hiring practices and even in providing employee housing. He said that black employees of American firms said it would be terribly hurtful to South African blacks if the American firms were forced to close up shop. The other day, I came across an item that shows how ridiculous people can be when motivated by prejudice. It seems that the lady in charge of the American Peace Corps is so bitter about South Africa and its policies that she won't allow any Peace Corps volunteers to serve in that country. It does seem as though she's making a policy determination that is or should be beyond her authority, but never mind that. Recently two young volunteers serving in Botswana, which borders on South Africa came down with back ailments. They were not allowed to seek treatment in a nearby South African hospital. Madame director had them flown to Frankfurt, Germany. That's a 14-hour flight, one way. As one of the young men said, he flew 14 hours, waited another 4 and a half hours to spend 20 minutes with a doctor, then flew 14 hours back. and here's the tagline: Madam director who wouldn't allow treatment in a South African hospital, sent them to Germany on a plane of South African Airways. Cost three thousand dollars. This is Ronald Reagan. Thanks for listening. |
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