DL/A-Z//ANT - [Correspondence with the Anti-Apartheid Movement]

DL/A-Z//ANT

File

[Correspondence with the Anti-Apartheid Movement]

25/04/1975-01/12/1975

5 Letters (typescript)
1 Invitation

1820 Settlers National Monument Foundation

Anti-Apartheid Movement

001 is a letter from the 1820 Settler's National Monument Foundation to Doris Lessing, inviting her to attend the World Convention of Women in Grahamstown, South Africa, during International Women's Year, 1975. The list of invitees includes "Mrs. Perón", "Odette Churchill", "The Empress of Iran" and "The Rt. Hon. Mrs. Margaret Thatcher, M.P.".

002 is a reply from Lessing: "Very many thanks for your much appreciated invitation to come to the World Convention of Women which you plan to hold. You do not seem to be aware that I am a Prohibited Immigrant in South Africa, and that therefore it would not be possible for me to attend the Convention."

003 is a letter from Cathy Mason of the Anti-Apartheid Movement to Lessing: "The Movement is extremely surprised to note that your name has been used in the advance brochure for a "World Convention of Eminent Women" being held in Grahamstown, South Africa, all next week." The letter repudiates the convention organisers and invites Lessing to publicly disassociate herself from the event. It includes the brochure for the convention [004] and a form letter that Lessing is invited to sign, disassociating herself from the convention [005].

006 is a reply from Lesssing to Mason, explaining her refusal to attend the convention. "You say that you are "extremely surprised" to see my name on the brochure. But it is quite obvious, at a single glance, to see what has happened, and what methods they are using. They are methods, after all, characteristic of the South African government and its official bodies." Lessing refuses to sign the Anti-Apartheid Movement letter: "I don't want to sign the letter because I feel it is ill-judged in tone: moral indignation and excitement would be less effective than something cooler."