Bush Has No Plan to Lift Sanctions Against S. Africa

The Bush Administration has no plans to lift U.S. sanctions against South Africa, President Bush indicated Monday, deflecting pressure from some conservatives who argue that the Pretoria government deserves a concrete reward for its racial policy reforms.

“I’m bound by the law” to maintain the sanctions until the South African government meets additional conditions, Bush said in a press conference. Although he could ask Congress to change the law and repeal some or all of the sanctions, he showed no inclination to do so.

“I think we ought to give Mr. De Klerk certain credit,” Bush said, referring to South African President Frederik W. de Klerk. The South African leader, Bush said, has proven that he is able to “look much more realistically about political change.”

But, when asked if he thinks he needs to make a “gesture” to De Klerk to respond to the release of activist Nelson R. Mandela, Bush said he believes his invitation to De Klerk and Mandela to visit Washington will suffice.

Some Administration officials, as well as conservatives here and abroad, have advocated a rapid removal of at least some sanctions. Monday morning, for example, Herman Cohen, the assistant secretary of state who oversees policy toward Africa, said the United States should “make some gesture” to reward De Klerk.

“What we really care about is encouraging further progress,” said Cohen. “If that means relaxation of sanctions, fine.”

Over the weekend, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher sent a letter to about two dozen world leaders advocating an end to international sanctions against the De Klerk government.

“When people are doing the right thing as boldly and courageously as President De Klerk,” Thatcher wrote, “it seems quite absurd to still use sticks to beat them with, however small those sticks may be.”

So far, Thatcher, who has long been the most outspoken Western leader in resisting sanctions against the South African regime, appears to be alone in her call.

Bush in the past has opposed the sanctions, which were adopted over then-President Ronald Reagan’s veto in 1986. He repeated that philosophical leaning Monday, saying, “Frankly, I think some (sanctions) are counterproductive.”

For now, however, Bush seems disinclined to back his philosophy with action, perhaps wary of the strong domestic opposition he would face. Democrats made opposition to South Africa a popular issue when Reagan vetoed the sanctions bill. An active campaign by Bush to remove sanctions would, at minimum, undermine the efforts his Administration has made to improve relations with black voters.

Bush said he would consult on the issue with Mandela, who supports continued sanctions, when the black leader visits Washington. So far, no date has been scheduled for the visits of either Mandela or De Klerk.

The President also seemed determined to minimize differences between Mandela and the United States. He brushed aside questions about Mandela’s statements supporting continued armed struggle against the white minority-led government and praising the South African Communist Party, a long-time ally of Mandela’s African National Congress in the anti-apartheid fight.

“We’ve always advocated nonviolence,” Bush said, but “I read (Mandela’s) statement to be more on the defensive side”--an advocacy of self-defense, rather than aggressive violence.

Mandela, in a press conference Monday in Johannesburg, defended in theory the use of force, saying “the armed struggle is a defensive act against apartheid.”

And on Sunday, in his first speech after his release from prison, Mandela had said, “I salute” the Communist Party for “its sterling contribution to the struggle for democracy.”

“The alliance between ourselves and the party remains as strong as it ever was,” Mandela added.

In the past, U.S. administrations have often raised concerns about ties between the Communists and the African National Congress, the principal guerrilla group in the struggle against apartheid. This time, however, Bush played down any such worry.

“I think these Communist parties are for the most part sliding down hill. What’s coming uphill is democracy and freedom,” he said. If Mandela pushes plans to nationalize privately held businesses, Bush said, “if we have a difference there, that’s fine--we’ll discuss it with him.”

While Bush advocated maintaining the status quo on sanctions, several congressional Democrats on Monday pushed ahead with plans for bills that would strengthen the sanctions still further--imposing what would amount to a virtual trade ban with South Africa. The move drew support from a spokeswoman for the ANC.

“While we welcome Mandela’s release with great concern, we note that 2,500 political prisoners remain in jail,” Lindiwe Mabuza, the ANC’s U.S. representative, said at a Washington press conference. Until further changes are made in South African government policy, Mandela and other anti-apartheid activists cannot participate in political debate “without fears of arrest, detention, tear gas or clubs,” she said.

Times staff writer Shawn Pogatchnik contributed to this story.