African Activist Archive

The mailing says First National City and Chase Manhattan banks have given outright support to the South African regime. This support continues in the form of a revolving credit arrangement; although other US banks are also involved, these two are in the forefront; a great many of our churches and their agencies do much business with these two banks. The mailing says it is therefore suggested that we urge them to withdraw as much business as possible from these banks; because these banks are not merely doing business in South Africa but are helping the regime, this issue cuts through the ambiguities of general economic involvement; the argument that withdrawal from these banks will not free the churches' dollars from that involvement in a racist economy is therefore irrelevant; the churches are being asked to make a moral protest on a clear issue, not to sanctify their money. The mailing says it is believed that withdrawal by several (or even one) large churches and the NCC, if done publicly for clearly stated reasons, would draw the attention of Christians throughout the country to the apartheid issue, and it might thereby be possible to create a new context within which business and government policies affecting South Africa are formulate; the attached "Rationale for the Protest Against Banks Doing Business with South Africa" and the "Appeal" leaflet go into this problem further. The mailing says it is suggested that special attention be given to the appalling education policies of the South African and Rhodesian regimes. The mailing says US oil companies are said to be helping South Africa in an intensive search for oil, and there are rumors that it already has been discovered; if this is so, South Africa's armor against economic sanctions will be almost complete; it has been suggested that the position should be investigated in order to discover which companies have been helping South Africa in order that protests be made and perhaps selective boycotts be organized. The mailing says we suggest that COEMAR take part in the seminar planned by the International Affairs Commission of the National Council of Churches for January. The mailing says it is hoped that id COEMAR does not move to withdraw funds from First National City by the proposed December 9 deadline (the day before Human Rights Day, which falls on Saturday), that they might possibly offer a press release giving their moral support in concert with other denominations. The mailing says we deeply hope that the Ad Hoc Committee on Southern Africa of COEMAR will be kept alive for further study and involvement in these burning issues confronting us today. The mailing discusses Freedom National Bank and the WCC (World Council of Churches). [Notes: COEMAR is the acronym for Commission on Ecumenical Mission and Relations, part of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The document A RATIONALE FOR THE PROTEST AGANIST BANKS DOING BUSINESS WITH SOUTH AFRICA published by the American Committee on Africa is on this website.]

African Activist Archive

[Dear Friends: To follow up our memo to you of December 11, the Southern Africa Committee of the University Christian Movement submits a small packet for your perusal.]

TO THE AD HOC COMMITTEE ON SOUTHERN AFRICA OF COEMAR

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