Margaret Thatcher's Attitude To South Africa

[jake-the-peg]

In the furore about the miner's strike papers it's easy to miss the very interesting papers about Margaret Thatcher's dealings with South Africa.

It seems she took up Nelson Mandela's case with Boetha but was rebuffed. There seems to have been a real distaste for the South African regieme:

//Before the visit No 10 was disconcerted to learn the South Africans planned to bring a small present to give the prime minister. "Do we have to reciprocate?" one official wrote. "I am afraid we must," another replied.

They gave him a small Crown Derby bowl valued at £162.50, plus vat.//

Perhaps because of her 'Iron Lady' image people expected the same toughness in dealing with the apartheid regieme in South Africa and not seeing that mistook it for support.

Yes they could have done more - but has she been unfairly tarred with soupporting racist South Africa?

[Peter Pedant]

Gromit: "Mr Botha said that he noted the prime minister's remarks but that he was not able to interfere with the South African judicial process."


I think this is used quite a lot - Chief COnstables on gold courses ++
Thatcher used it in the Saudi Princess thing - the Saudis didnt like us disliking them stoning an adulteress

and finally over Pinochet who had cruelly tortured various Chileans and ENglish people, but had also given us exocet information over the Falklands.

[Peter Pedant]

golf courses.... sorry it looks as tho I have tarred every CC with the same brush. no no no