Letters
Tennyson Makiwane, East African Representative, ANC: Letter to U Thant, Secretary-General of the United Nations
- 23 July 1963
- Author: Tennyson Makiwane
C/o Hotel Diplomat
108 West 43rd Street
New York, N.Y.
July 23, 1963
Mr. U Thant
Secretary-General
United Nations Organisation
United Nations 17, New York
Dear Mr. U Thant:
About three months ago, our attention was drawn to a letter purporting to be from Chief A.J. Lutuli, President-General of the African National Congress of South Africa. It appears that this letter was sent to you, as well as to other people and organisations in Europe and America. I enclose a photostat of this letter which is dated May 2, 1963.
From the onset it became clear to those of us who represent the African National Congress outside of South Africa that the letter was a blatant forgery and could not have possibly been written by Chief Lutuli. Our Vice-President, Mr. Oliver Tambo, whose offices are in London, then wrote to Chief Lutuli drawing his attention to this document. A reply has been received from Chief Lutuli confirming that this letter is in fact a forgery. I enclose the letter of June 21, 1963 written by Chief Lutuli to Mr. Oliver Tambo, in which he repudiates authorship of the letter of May 2, 1963. Chief Lutuli has requested us to immediately draw your attention to this situation.
I beg to remain,
Yours sincerely,
Tennyson Makiwane
East African Representative of the
AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS