"We ended up as friendly as we started," declared Britain's Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher at the close of a special two-day meeting of seven leaders of the 49-nation Commonwealth last week. Actually, relations between Thatcher and her Commonwealth colleagues were strained at the beginning of the session and got steadily worse. In the end Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi accused Britain of "compromising its basic values for economic gain." An even angrier Kenneth Kaunda, the President of Zambia, described Thatcher as a "pathetic figure" who was "worshiping platinum and gold."
The issue, of course, was economic sanctions against South Africa, which 48 Commonwealth governments support but Thatcher has steadfastly opposed. She argues that sanctions would work hardship on millions of blacks in South Africa and neighboring countries while failing to destroy apartheid; she also feared the effect they might have on Britain's estimated $18 billion investment in South Africa and its $3 billion in annual trade with that country.
Present at the divisive Marlborough House summit, in addition to Gandhi and Kaunda, were Prime Ministers Brian Mulroney of Canada, Robert Hawke of Australia, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe and Sir Lynden Pindling of the Bahamas. On the second day of the meeting, Thatcher dropped her opposition to a proposed European Community ban on South African coal, steel and iron, and said she would accept "voluntary" restrictions on new British investment and the promotion of South African tourism. For the other six leaders present, this was nowhere near enough. Together they endorsed a set of sanctions proposed at a previous Commonwealth gathering that included a ban on agricultural imports, new investment and air links. For good measure, they added a ban on new bank loans and the import of uranium.
Within hours South Africa demonstrated how seriously it considered the Commonwealth action. "You can rest assured we are not going to take this lying down," declared Foreign Minister Roelof ("Pik") Botha. At a Pretoria press conference he announced what amounted to retaliatory actions. One was a levy on goods transported from South African ports to black states to the north. A cash deposit of 25% will now be required for imported goods bound for Zambia. In addition, a slowdown immediately went into effect at the Beit Bridge crossing between South Africa and Zimbabwe, as officials began a "statistical" study of the "nature and extent" of all goods moving across the border. Decrying what he called the "hysterical stampede" against South Africa, Botha challenged Mugabe and Kaunda to "put their money where their mouth is and introduce comprehensive sanctions against this country." Zambia condemned Pretoria's action as "blackmail and intimidation." Mugabe, on his return to Zimbabwe, told his countrymen to brace themselves for hard times. "All thought of luxury and comfort will have to go," he said. "It is just like a war."