Full Legislative History
Resolution Number: 1988-B050
Title: Adopt Statement on Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions Against South Africa
Legislative Action Taken: Concurred
Final Text:

Resolved, That the 69th General Convention adopt as its own the resolution passed by Executive Council May 18, 1988:

Resolved, That the Executive Council in its call for diplomatic sanctions suggests that these be applied to in steps beginning with the closing of South African consulates in the United States, including honorary consulates, and the gradual reduction of South African embassy staff in Washington D.C.; and be it further

Resolved, That the Executive Council support comprehensive economic sanctions by the United States, including, but not limited to the following:

  1. a total trade embargo against South Africa, including the removal of U.S. reliance on South African minerals;
  2. complete withdrawal of all U.S. corporation doing business in South Africa, including the export of petroleum products or nuclear materials;
  3. measures to reduce South Africa's foreign exchange earnings from gold;
  4. prohibiting any military and intelligence cooperation between the U.S. and South Africa;
  5. that all products sold by the U.S. government or U.S. corporations to any third party be done so with the stipulation that such products may not be sold to South Africa; and be if further

Resolved, That the United States use its diplomatic persuasion to encourage other countries, especially Great Britain, France, West Germany, Japan, Israel, Taiwan and South Korea to implement their own economic sanctions against South Africa, and not to take advantage of U.S. sanctions; and be it further

Resolved, That comprehensive diplomatic and economic sanctions be maintained and only increased or decreased in proportion to progress made in the abolishment of apartheid and the establishment of majority rule in South Africa and independence for Namibia under U.N. resolution 435; and be it further

Resolved, That copies of this resolution be shared with the members of this Church, Archbishop Tutu, Bishop Kauluma, the President of the United States, the U.S. State Department and the leadership of the Congress, including the chairpersons of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Commit tee, the Congressional sub-committee on Africa as well as the chairpersons of the House Committee on the Interior and the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Citation: General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Detroit, 1988 (New York: General Convention, 1989), p. 673.