When the Union of South Africa wanted to borrow $50 million to buy U.S. industrial equipment last September, Finance Minister Nicolaas Christiaan Havenga came to the likeliest spotthe U.S. Export-Import Bank. The bank agreed to discuss a loan, provided that South Africa would meet the usual requirements, i.e., tell exactly how the money was to be spent, and let the bank supervise the loan agreement. Unsmiling old (67) Minister Havenga balked at the "intolerable" terms as a reflection on his country's credit rating, huffily said he had never had any trouble borrowing money on the London market.
But last week,...
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