Sees U.S. Using Moral Influence : Bush Brands S. Africa ‘Racist’ but Backs Ties

Taking a break from the road to campaign from his formal offices here, Vice President George Bush said Monday he believes South Africa is a “racist state”--but he affirmed his support for continuing diplomatic relations between the United States and Pretoria.

Bush’s comments came when, during a press conference called to introduce former Reagan aides as new members of his campaign team, the vice president was asked whether he agreed with the Democratic platform’s new description of South Africa as a “terrorist state.”

The vice president refused to answer directly but said: “I think it’s a racist state, regrettably, and I think we ought to do what we can by staying engaged and trying to figure out if the United States can use its moral influence to change that situation.

“But,” Bush added, “I don’t favor breaking diplomatic relations.”

Dukakis Echoes Platform

The presumptive Democratic nominee and Bush’s November opponent, Massachusetts Gov. Michael S. Dukakis, echoed the platform’s statement Monday in Boston by accusing South Africa of terrorism and engaging in “blatant aggression” against its neighbor nations. Dukakis also said he would not rule out military aid to those nations, a contrast with Reagan Administration policy.

Bush’s comments preceded Dukakis’, and he did not directly address the governor’s views on South Africa.

In his remarks, the vice president used tougher language than that usually used by ranking Reagan Administration officials--the President has called South Africa’s policy of apartheid “repugnant” but not directly racist. But he did hew to the Reagan Administration’s central position of continued engagement there.

Separately, White House spokesman Marlin Fitzwater on Monday said that the Administration disagreed with the Democratic platform writers’ characterization of South Africa as a terrorist nation.

‘Would Not Follow Suit’

“We believe that the best way to influence policy in South Africa is to stay engaged. And, therefore, we would not follow their suit,” he said.

Bush also on Monday moved to shore up his campaign organization by announcing the appointments of Sheila Tate as his campaign press secretary and James Lake as senior communications adviser.

Tate served as press secretary to Nancy Reagan from 1981 to 1985. Lake was press secretary and director of communications for Reagan’s 1976 and 1980 campaigns and for the 1984 Reagan-Bush campaign. They replace Peter B. Teeley, who resigned as director of communications after a dispute with other Bush officials.

But there was no definitive word Monday on the timing of the biggest expected campaign change--the predicted appointment of Treasury Secretary James A. Baker III as campaign chairman. Baker ran Bush’s 1980 presidential campaign and the two men have been confidants for decades.

Baker said last week that he had “no plans” to quit his post to manage Bush’s presidential campaign. But he was careful not to rule out such a move.

Role Not Determined

“What Jim Baker might or might not do has not been determined,” Bush declared. “I get good advice from Jim Baker, so do others. I’m very comfortable with the situation at present.”

The vice president later met with Cuban-American supporters and vowed that he would never make “accommodations” with Fidel Castro. The remark was meant to still growing concern in the Cuban refugee community that the Administration is softening its treatment of Cuba.

“Our determination to restore freedom and democracy to Cuba has never wavered and the freedom there is not a bargaining chip of any kind at all,” Bush said at signing ceremony for a Cuban immigration agreement.

Staff Writer James Gerstenzang contributed to this story.