South Africa: Opprobrium from All Sides

In London more subtle but much more powerful forces for reform were at work. Fritz Leutwiler, an independent mediator and former Bank for International Settlements president, held private meetings with South African finance officials and representatives of 30 multinational banks to discuss repayment of South Africa's $14 billion in short-term foreign debt. The government froze payments on the debt seven weeks ago after many banks, fearful that racial violence would destroy the economy, cut off credit. Sources close to the meetings said their object was to find a way to restore South Africa's credit lines so it can renew normal international commerce and begin debt repayment. South African officials, the sources said, are well aware that the debt problem cannot be resolved without movement toward political reform.

Botha showed no signs last week that he was ready to make concessions. In fact, he seemed particularly pugnacious as he told a political meeting that if sanctions against South Africa resulted in a cutoff of chromium exports, it would put 1 million Americans out of work and bring Western Europe's auto industry to a standstill. South Africa supplies more than 80% of the U.S. and Europe's chromium, which is used in the manufacture of stainless steel. A spokesman later said Botha's statement was not a threat; he was only pointing out that sanctions can boomerang.

The government had more stern words when seven clergymen of various races from the Dutch Reformed Church proposed to travel to Lusaka, the capital of Zambia, to meet with the outlawed African National Congress. Botha responded with anger. "The government has expressed its strong viewpoint on discussions with the A.N.C., which is a murderous organization," a spokesman for his office said. The government had raised a furor a week earlier when it seized the passports of eight Afrikaner students who had scheduled a trip to Lusaka, and it was widely expected that some similar action would be taken against the seven clergymen.

By week's end the number of deaths since the disturbances began in September 1984 had exceeded 800, including more than 70 in the Cape Town area. A U.D.F. official said that with the arrests and the new state of emergency, the Botha government has made "an open declaration of war upon the people of Cape Town." --By Michael S. Serrill. Reported by Bruce W. Nelan/Johannesburg, with other bureaus