U.S. Reacts With Outrage, Files Formal Protest

The Reagan Administration, brushing aside South Africa’s claim that it was acting against terrorism, expressed outrage at its attacks on three neighboring states Monday and filed a formal protest with the white minority government.

The White House and the State Department issued stinging statements condemning the air and commando attacks into Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The State Department called in Andre Killian, the South African charge d’affaires, to receive the official protest from Assistant Secretary of State Chester A. Crocker.

White House spokesman Larry Speakes said that the United States “stands with the governments and peoples of those (attacked) countries in expressing our sense of outrage at these events. We vigorously condemn these attacks by South Africa.”

But State Department spokesman Bernard Kalb said the U.S. government is considering more steps, including the temporary recall of its ambassador, to show its disapproval of the attacks, which could torpedo U.S.-backed diplomatic efforts to get Cuban troops out of neighboring Angola.

Another official said later that additional economic sanctions are not being considered.

U.S. officials expressed concern that the attacks will sour the climate for U.S.-backed negotiations over a possible package deal that would give independence to Namibia (South-West Africa) and provide for withdrawal of Cuban troops from Angola.

In announcing the attacks on facilities controlled by the outlawed African National Congress, South Africa said it was acting against terrorism. The government considers the congress, which seeks to overthrow the apartheid system and replace it with black majority rule, to be a terrorist organization.

Parallels to U.S. Raid Denied

But the Administration heatedly denied that there are any parallels between the South African raids and the U.S. bombing of Libyan targets last month.

“Libya is the world’s principal proponent of state-sponsored terrorism,” Kalb said. “The governments of Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe have made serious efforts to limit cross-border violence directed at South Africa.”

He said that Washington also has condemned the African National Congress’ use of violence for political purposes and is concerned about the organization’s ties to the Soviet Union. Nevertheless, he said, the United States “continues to regard the ANC as an important political organization that must be a factor in negotiations over South Africa’s future.”

Speakes said the raids threaten to scuttle diplomatic efforts to resolve disputes between South Africa and its black-ruled neighbors, especially the long-running discussions on Namibia. South Africa administers Namibia even though its League of Nations mandate to do so was canceled years ago.

Stopping Violence

“Our diplomacy in South Africa has been aimed at stopping cross-border violence,” he said. “Such efforts have had results. We would note that senior officials of South Africa and its neighbors have held regular and productive consultations on issues of security and respect for international borders.”

Earlier this year, the Pretoria government said it was prepared to grant Namibia independence in August, provided that Cuban troops were removed from Angola. Although the Angolan government rejected the proposal, U.S. officials had hoped to revive it. At the very least, the South African attacks place responsibility for the stalemate squarely on the Pretoria regime.

“They are mucking up their own diplomatic efforts--unless they don’t want their diplomatic efforts to work,” a senior Administration official said. “It’s like putting a gun at the foot and pulling the trigger.”