St. Paul recorder., 1963-11-07

country. On the contrary, we con-
slider opposition to apartheid in
South Africa to be a logical extern
sion Of the struggle for equality in
the United States.
More specifically, we boycott
South African goods
Because the prosperity Of South
African white-owned mines, fac
tories and farms Is built on the
sweat Of disenfranchased, non
uionized and deprived non-wHdte
workers. Handling South African
goods can only contribute to this
vicious system Of racial exploita-
Hon E.
Because South Africa has ig-
nored % resolutions passed by the
United Nations calling upon the
Government Of South Africa TO
change its racist policies. Out Of
a recent General Assembly debate
came the request that Member
States close their ports to all ves-
sels flying South African flags"
and boycott all South African
goods" GUN General Assembly
Resolution 1761, November 6,
1882 ...
Because US Ambassador to the
UN Adlai Stevenson himself re-
Gently said that ''the situation in
South Africa is worse than it was
three years ago our efforts
have yielded no tangible results"
adding that 1.-The US would not
cooperate in matters which would
lend support to South Afrfca's
apartheid policies" D..
Because the AFL-CIO, at its
Fourth Constitutional Convention,
resolved to call upon the US Gov
ernment to institute a policy
of economic sanctions against
South Africa =" and Ito ex-
anime the possibility of trade I'M
ionists refusing to handle South
African goods in a worldwide in
dustrial boycott :"
Because we wish to show SOL
idarity with others throughout the
world who have already refused to
cooperate in any way with the
apartheid regime. These include:
The African Heads of State at
Adds Ababa, pledged to the Iber-
alton of Southern Africa Dele
gates to the international Labour
Organization who voted to exclude
South Africa from all activities in
the organization except for men,
bership in the General Conference
and the longshoremen of Den
mark and Norway who refused to
unload South African cargo.
What do we hope to accomp-
Hsh with this embargo? First, of
course, Is the precedent set for
other maritime and transport
workers of the organized American
labor movement. We are not the
only ones concerned with racial
exploitation for profit and power.
Others will draw obvious lessons
from our example. Second, is the
focusing Of attention Of the US
public as a whole on our trade with
South Africa and our individual
consumption of South African pro-
ducts such as lobster tails.
I'VE do not expect that consum-
er boycotts will bring down the
regime, but it could help weaken
it. The Verwoerd Government will
not negotiate because it speaks
from strength. AS long as foreign
investments flow in and products
flow out, declarations Of moral
indignation will bounce harmlessly
off the armor of apartheid. But
let the flow of capital and goods
turn to a trfcltle: fanaticism will
be replaced, if not by reason, at
least by a gerIninal desire for in
terracial accommodation.
1--WE demonstrate, most of all.
because we believe that our Gov
ernment, which has already con-
demned apartheid in words, must
now show good faith by supporting
a resolution for boycotts and sane
tons against South Africa at the
United Nations this fall, and by
placing its own embargo on Amer
;oo,, trada with South Africa