Telegram reporting on a U.S. Department of State press briefing outlining American policy toward Rhodesia. The briefing includes responses to questions about Bishop Muzorewa, U.S. recognition policy regarding Rhodesia’s political developments, and mentions Bayard Rustin’s critique of U.S. foreign policy. Rustin expressed concern that U.S. non-recognition of the Muzorewa government risked undermining progress toward democratic reform in Rhodesia and highlighted limitations in the administration’s approach to African liberation movements.
In 1979, Rhodesia was in a period of political transition following internal settlement agreements aiming to end white-minority rule. Rustin's involvement as a critic of U.S. policy reflected his ongoing commitment to equitable decolonization and support for genuine democratic governance in African countries. His critique underscored tensions between activist perspectives and official U.S. foreign policy during the Carter administration’s efforts to navigate complex international dynamics in southern Africa.
U.S. Department of State, “Telegram: U.S. Policy on Rhodesia Press Briefing,” July 10, 1979, National Archives, accessed September 26, 2025, https://aad.archives.gov/aad/createpdf?rid=150947&dt=2776&dl=2169.
