1. Jooste¹⁵ of the South African Delegation called on me this morning to discuss South West Africa. He had received instructions from Dr. Donges,¹⁶ who will not return to Paris until January 1st or 2nd, to have preliminary conversations on a bilateral basis with delegations of the Administering Powers and of certain other "responsible" countries.

2. Jooste began by saying that he could not tell us exactly what had been decided during Donges' consultations with the South African Cabinet. He emphasized, however, that the matter had reached a point where in his governments view "some positive stand was required" of South Africa. The Union Government was not for the time being concerned with the two substantive resolutions which had been recently adopted by the Fourth Committee. It intended, however, to bring before a plenary meeting of the Assembly the "constitutional issue" involved in the Fourth Committee's invitations to the Hereros and to the Rev. Michael Scott. Jooste was not sure of the most feasible means of bringing this constitutional issue before a plenary session. He hoped that the Assembly's debate on the Fourth Committee's substantive resolutions on South West Africa might provide the occasion. If not, South Africa might have to ask, through the General Committee, for a new item to be placed on the agenda. In any case, South Africa would find a way of confronting the General Assembly with a draft resolution challenging the legality of the Fourth Committee's decisions to grant hearings to the Hereros and Michael Scott. (The legal arguments adduced by South Africa with regard to the Hereros are contained in Dr. Donges' letter to the President of the Assembly, a copy of which was sent to you with my letter No. 67 of November 27th.)

3. In very forceful terms Jooste repeated what Donges had said in a Commonwealth meeting a month ago (see my telegram No. 104 of November 27th) to the effect that the unconstitutional behaviour of the Fourth Committee had grave implications not only for South Africa but for all the Administering Powers. No country, he said, could afford to tolerate such illegal interference in its affairs. South Africa hoped to be able to organize a "united front" of responsible members in support of its case.

4. During the conversation no direct reference was made to our votes on the various issues which arose during the debates on South West Africa. Jooste did, however, express his government's disappointment that some countries had supported the French on Morocco while withholding their support from South Africa on a matter involving "the same principle". He hoped that we would be prepared to take part in further conversations with the South African delegation both on a bilateral and on a more general basis; and he wished to know whether South Africa could count on Canadian support for the course which it intended to follow. In reply to a question Jooste said that he could not predict what his government's reaction would be to the rejection of its proposed resolution. This would depend on how many delegations voted with South Africa and, more important, who they were.

5. I said that I would send you a report of the conversation but that until I heard from you I could not express even a personal view on what our attitude would be. It was left that I would seek instructions and speak to him again in a few days. I gathered that because of the Christmas recess he was having difficulty in approaching some of the delegations concerned. He had seen the French who were "very sympathetic" but as Jessup was out of town he had not yet spoken to the Americans.

6. In view of the importance which South Africa attaches to this question I should be most grateful to know as soon as possible what line we might take in our conversations with them and with other delegations.

7. Most delegations are maintaining only skeleton staffs during the recess. Hence it may be difficult to obtain the views of other delegations until January 2nd. We shall keep you informed of developments.

8. I asked Jooste if the South African High Commissioner in Ottawa would be making independent representations to you. He was not certain but did not think so since Roberts was not fully conversant with the question. Ends.