12 Countries to Pull Envoys From S. Africa

The 10 Common Market nations and soon-to-be members Spain and Portugal today agreed to recall their ambassadors from South Africa for consultations to protest that country’s racial policies.

The ministers also condemned the state of emergency imposed by the white-minority government in South Africa, and President Pieter W. Botha’s refusal to meet with Anglican Bishop Desmond Tutu, the black churchman who won the Nobel Peace Prize last year.

However, Foreign Minister Jacques F. Poos of Luxembourg, acting as a spokesman for members of the Common Market, also known as the European Economic Community, said they remained divided over joint economic sanctions against South Africa, where 5 million whites subjugate 24 million blacks.

Sanctions Resisted

“There are certain reservations among the member states against economic measures against South Africa,” he told reporters. West Germany and Great Britain were largely understood to be against sanctions, despite calls from France for joint action.

Poos said the ambassadors are expected to return home this month for a meeting on existing and proposed moves against South Africa. Another meeting of foreign ministers is planned in September.

Foreign ministers from the Common Market were in Helsinki for a 10th anniversary conference marking an agreement on human rights and European security.

Dialogue Urged

The Common Market foreign ministers called on the South African government to “open a dialogue with all the representatives of the black majority, including those who are in prison.”