South Africa: A Divided Congress

Joy should have reigned last week among members of the African National Congress as the long-outlawed group held its first conference inside South Africa in 30 years. Instead, rancor erupted as the A.N.C.'s veteran leadership clashed with the younger, hard-line rank and file. President Oliver Tambo, back from three decades of exile, suggested the easing of economic sanctions against South Africa in light of recent reforms, but was voted down. Nelson Mandela, criticized for meeting with government officials without consulting the A.N.C. membership, said his opponents "do not understand the nature of negotiations."

The conference ended with a warning that the A.N.C. would pull out of talks with Pretoria unless the government freed all political prisoners and permitted all exiles to return by next April 30. Delegates also threatened a campaign of strikes and boycotts to back up their demands. President F.W. de Klerk warned in turn against such "outmoded" radicalism, calling on the A.N.C. to decide whether it wanted peaceful, negotiated solutions or a return to the confrontations of the past.