U.S. Demands End to State of Emergency in S. Africa

The United States, stepping up its rhetorical attempt to influence the Pretoria government, called Friday for an end to the week-old state of emergency in South Africa, noting the suspension of civil liberties has failed to end the violence in black townships.

White House spokesman Larry Speakes, who on Monday blamed the violence on the government’s policy of apartheid while avoiding criticism of the emergency declaration, announced Friday, “We want the state of emergency removed.”

“We call on the government of South Africa to act with the greatest restraint at this tense time,” Speakes said, reading a statement two hours after President Reagan chaired his first National Security Council meeting since undergoing cancer surgery.

Although Speakes, as is customary, refused to say whether South Africa was discussed at the secret meeting in the President’s living quarters, he said the statement was consistent with Reagan’s views.

Sanctions Stilled Opposed

While saying the United States continues to oppose economic and political sanctions against South Africa, Speakes said the Administration believes it is “essential that the government in Pretoria respect the fundamental rights of all South Africans.”

“The world is watching how that government and the South African police conduct themselves,” he said. “The real cause of violence in South Africa is apartheid.”

Speakes strengthened his language from several days ago, when he said the government’s racial policies were “largely responsible” for the outbreak.

“A lasting peace will take hold in the townships only when apartheid is dismantled,” Speakes added.

Addressing the Pretoria government’s imposition of a state of emergency, under which hundreds of blacks and anti-government leaders have been arrested, Speakes said: “We are deeply concerned whenever civil liberties are suspended anywhere in the world. This is certainly the case in South Africa, where violence and repression will not solve the country’s problems.”

Asked why the United States waited nearly a week to announce its opposition to the state of emergency, Speakes said the new position was prompted by the “continuing violence and bloodshed.”

He reiterated U.S. desires for talks between the South African government and black leaders. He also restated U.S. opposition to sanctions that the Administration contends would punish all South Africans, not just those who maintain white supremacy.

He said the United States would continue its policy of “constructive engagement,” which seeks to use public and private diplomacy to persuade the South African government to ease its policies.

French Resolution

“If there is no voice of reason talking with South Africa, it could lead to a result that no one wants,” Speakes said.

Although he declined to state a formal U.S. position on a French resolution before the United Nations Security Council, Speakes said: “Our views on mandatory sanctions are well known. To isolate South Africa economically and politically could lead to more violence and bloodshed.”

He said economic sanctions “could do harm and would do harm to the very people that we are trying to help.” France announced economic sanctions against South Africa earlier in the week, and there are moves in Congress for the United States to do the same.

On Capitol Hill, Rep. Mickey Leland (D-Texas), chairman of the congressional Black Caucus, called on the President to support the French-Danish resolution in the Security Council, which seeks voluntary economic sanctions against the South African government. The resolution also calls for the lifting of the state of emergency in South Africa and freedom for all political prisoners.

U.S. Abstains

But the United States abstained later in the day when the Security Council adopted a resolution calling for voluntary worldwide sanctions to force South Africa to dismantle apartheid.

The council acted by a 13-0 vote after the United States and Britain teamed up to veto a proposed amendment by the council’s six nonaligned members that would have threatened South Africa with wide-ranging mandatory sanctions if it failed to eradicate racial segregation.

At the State Department, spokesman Charles Redman reiterated that the Administration has no plans to hold any high-level meetings with South African officials. But he said the Administration regularly talks with South Africa through diplomatic channels.

And Redman rejected Soviet criticism of the U.S. position on South Africa. “We’ve made completely clear our abhorrence of the apartheid regime in South Africa, our desire that that regime be ended,” he said.