Resolution on Use of Computers in South Africa to be Filed with IBM
Diocesan Press Service. December 12, 1974 [74353]
GREENWICH, Conn. -- The Episcopal Church's committee on social responsibility in investments was authorized "to initiate, file and pursue with International Business Machines Corporation a shareholder resolution" asking the company to cease selling computers and related products to the government of South Africa. Other church groups will join with the Episcopal Church in the filing of the resolution.
Paul Neuhauser, chairman of the committee, told the Executive Council, meeting here Dec. 10-12, that "a corporation does in fact have a moral responsibility for the use to which its computers or other products are put by the South African government. "
He said that the IBM computers might be used by the South African government for "military purposes " or for the "control of persons."
IBM, he said, maintains that "their responsibility stops at the point of sale."
Mr. Neuhauser said that approximately one-third of IBM's South African sales are made to the South African government. The resolution, he said, "deals only with sales to the government of South Africa, not to individuals."
George Guernsey of St. Louis said that "we have a good precedent set by Polaroid ... an American corporation that has already taken this position" asked for in the resolution to be filed with IBM.
Dupuy Bateman, Jr., of Pittsburgh, said, "I don't think this body (the Executive Council) has the competence to determine whether such a policy" by IBM "will be more harmful than beneficial to the people we want to help." This, he said, would be like telling General Electric how their toasters or movie projectors should be used.