Word: commonwealth
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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...issue, of course, was economic sanctions against South Africa, which 48 Commonwealth governments support but Thatcher has steadfastly opposed. She argues that sanctions would work hardship on millions of blacks in South Africa and neighboring countries while failing to destroy apartheid; she also feared the effect they might have on Britain's estimated $18 billion investment in South Africa and its $3 billion in annual trade with that country...
...Community ban on South African coal, steel and iron, and said she would accept "voluntary" restrictions on new British investment and the promotion of South African tourism. For the other six leaders present, this was nowhere near enough. Together they endorsed a set of sanctions proposed at a previous Commonwealth gathering that included a ban on agricultural imports, new investment and air links. For good measure, they added a ban on new bank loans and the import of uranium...
Within hours South Africa demonstrated how seriously it considered the Commonwealth action. "You can rest assured we are not going to take this lying down," declared Foreign Minister Roelof ("Pik") Botha. At a Pretoria press conference he announced what amounted to retaliatory actions. One was a levy on goods transported from South African ports to black states to the north. A cash deposit of 25% will now be required for imported goods bound for Zambia. In addition, a slowdown immediately went into effect at the Beit Bridge crossing between South Africa and Zimbabwe, as officials began a "statistical" study...
...hope of heading off sanctions. Howe was rebuffed at every turn, both by black leaders angered at Thatcher's refusal to consider sanctions and by the government of State President P.W. Botha for "direct interference" in South Africa's affairs. By mid-July, Kaunda was threatening to leave the Commonwealth if Thatcher remained adamant. Reports were even circulating that Queen Elizabeth II, the titular head of the Commonwealth, was worried about the possibility of its breakup...
...opened in an atmosphere of apprehension. On the first day, the seven leaders listened attentively to reports by Howe and the Eminent Persons Group, a body headed by former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser and General Olusegun Obasanjo, the former Nigerian head of state, which was appointed by the Commonwealth last year to study the South African dilemma. Most of the leaders present were struck by the degree to which Howe agreed with the group. Kaunda, who had publicly criticized Howe during his African mission, praised the Foreign Secretary's remarks as "simply fantastic...