To pay and what to pay? South Africa and lend-lease in the 1940's

Abstract

Afrikaans

Om te betaal en wat om te betaal? Suid-Afrika en lend-lease in die jare veertig Suid-Afrika was een van 'n aantal Geallieerde ontvangers van lend-lease hulp vanaf die Verenigde State van Amerika gedurende die Tweede Wêreldoorlog. Alhoewel Suid-Afrika in 'n posisie was om te betaal vir die oorlogsvoorrade wat dit ontvang het, het die Amerikaners aanvanklik verkies om voorrade aan al die Statebondslande deur lend-lease te kanaliseer. Daar is egter geen formele ooreenkoms hieroor tussen Suid-Afrika en die VSA gesluit nie, Suid-Afrika het die meeste van sy lend-lease voorrade via Brittanje ontvang en 'n omvattende ooreenkoms met laasgenoemde gesluit. Vanaf ongeveer 1943 het sommige Amerikaanse amptenare egter daarop begin aandring dat Suid-Afrika, aangesien dié land nie ekonomies gesproke deur die oorlog verwoes is nie, vir sy voorrade moes betaal. Suid-Afrika was daartoe bereid. Uitgerekte onderhandelinge het gevolg en 'n ooreenkoms in hierdie verband is in 1945 gesluit. Teen daardie tyd het die Amerikaners geëis dat Suid-Afrika vir alle lend-lease voorrade wat dit vanaf die VSA ontvang het moes betaal. Suid-Afrika het geweier, aangesien dit reeds aan Brittanje betalings gedoen het vir voorrade wat via daardie land ontvang is - lend-lease voorrade ingeslote. Die Suid-Afrikaners het boonop gereken dat dit nie die oorspronklike gedagte van die instellers van lend-lease was om terugbetalings te eis nie. Taai onderhandelinge het gevolg. Die Amerikaners het oorspronklik $800 miljoen geëis. Suid-Afrika was net bereid om $100 miljoen te betaal. Uiteindelik is 'n ooreenkoms op laasgenoemde basis bereik. In hierdie artikel word die lend-lease kontroversie indringend onder die loep geneem.

English

South Africa was one of a number of Allied recipients of lend-lease aid from the United States of America during the Second World War. Although South Africa was in a position to pay for the war supplies it thus received, the Americans initially preferred to channel provisions to all Commonwealth countries through lend-lease. However, no formal agreement in this respect was signed between South Africa and the USA. South Africa received most of its lend-lease equipment through Britain, with which a comprehensive agreement was signed. From about 1943, however, some Americans felt that, since South Africa was not economically devastated by the war, the Union should pay for its supplies. South Africa was prepared to do just that. After lengthy negotiations an agreement to this effect was signed in 1945. By then, however, the Americans were demanding payment from South Africa for all lend-lease supplies it received from the USA. This South Africa refused to do, since it was already paying the British for supplies received through them - including lend-lease supplies. The South Africans furthermore felt that it was not the original intention of those who instituted lend-lease to demand repayment. Tough negotiations followed, with the Americans initially demanding some $800 million. South Africa was only prepared to pay $100 million. In the end a settlement was reached on that basis. In this article the history of this lend-lease controversy is analysed.