Description:
Marcus Jones reports on Congressional debate over a bill that would impose sanctions on the apartheid regime in South Africa. Jones notes that Ronald Reagan is opposed to sanctions, but did impose a limited one-year trade embargo on South Africa last September. Jones' report includes footage of Reagan giving a speech. Jones reports that Reagan and his supporters believe that sanctions would hurt black South Africans more than they would help them. Jones adds that supporters of sanctions call Reagan's position hypocritical and illogical. Jones' report is accompanied by footage of the members of US Congress addressing the legislature about the sanctions issue. The congressmen include Stephen Solarz, Silvio Conte, Dan Burton, Edward Kennedy, and Bob Dole. George Bush is shown presiding over the US Senate. Jones reports that anti-apartheid leaders believe that the US must set an example for other nations by imposing sanctions on the South African government. Jones' report is accompanied by footage of laborers in South Africa and by footage of black South Africans. This tape contains additional footage of Prince Andrew of Great Britain and Sarah Ferguson (Andrew's fiance). This edition of the Ten O'Clock News also included the following item: David Boeri reports on drug activity in the Grove Hall area of Roxbury
0:59:59: Visual: Footage of Stephen Solarz (US Representative from New York) speaking to legislators on June 18, 1986. Solarz says that sanctions are a form of "political shock therapy." Solarz says that it is better to deliver a stronger shock than a weaker one. Marcus Jones reports that Ronald Reagan (US President) gave a speech today; that Reagan's speech was supposed to quiet Congressional debate over sanctions against South Africa. Jones reports that Reagan's speech did little to quiet the debate. Jones notes that the Senate is debating a bill which would divest US business interests in South Africa; that the bill would ban US companies from trading with, investing in, or opening subsidiaries in South Africa. V: Shots of Reagan giving a speech; of the audience listening to Reagan. Shots of the Senate chambers; of Bob Dole (US Senator) speaking on the floor of the Senate chambers. Shot of George Bush (US Vice-President) presiding over the Senate. Bush confers with an official as he sits in his seat. Footage of Silvio Conte (US Representative from Massachusetts) addressing legislators. Conte says that the US should not be timid; that the US needs to provoke the South African government to act before civil war erupts. Footage of Dan Burton (US Representative from Indiana) addressing legislators. Burton says that legislators should give Reagan's measures time to work before enacting sanctions. Shot of Reagan speaking. Jones reports that Reagan tried in vain to cut off debate about sanctions last September; that Reagan issued a five-point executive order. Jones notes that Reagan's order included a limited one-year trade embargo on South Africa. Jones reports that critics believe that the executive order has failed to promote change in South Africa. Jones notes that US anti-apartheid leaders said that Reagan's position on South Africa is inadequate, hypocritical, and illogical. V: Shot of a US Congressman addressing legislators on June 18, 1986. Jones reports that Reagan's position states that US sanctions would hurt black South Africans more than they would help them. Jones reports that critics note that Reagan supported sanctions against the governments of Poland and Nicaragua. Jones reports that Reagan's policy states that the US would be put at a strategic disadvantage if the import of certain minerals from South Africa was outlawed. Jones notes that the current Congressional bill would allow exceptions for minerals imported for the military. V: Shots of an industrial plant in South Africa; of two black South African men walking in a commercial district in South Africa. Shots of Reagan giving a speech. Shot of Bush presiding over the Senate chambers. Shot of Edward Kennedy (US Senator) addressing members of the Senate. Jones reports that Reagan's critics acknowledge that strong sanctions will not remedy the situation in South Africa. Jones notes that there are only a few hundred US firms operating in South Africa; that US firms employ less than 1% of the South African work force. Jones reports that anti-apartheid leaders believe that change will come to South African only if other nations follow the example of the US in imposing sanctions. V: Shots of traders on the floor of a stock exchange; of a black South African miner. Shot of a sign on a building. The sign reads "Mine Labour Organisations" Shot of black South African women waiting at the Mine Labour Organisation building. Shot of black South African men carrying a coffin in a funeral procession. Shot of a black fist raised in the air.
Date Created:
07/22/1986
