Wentzel Christoffel du Plessis

Wentzel Christoffel du Plessis worked as J. B. M. Hertzog’s private secretary from 1931 to 1934. He later represented Standerton in Parliament for the National Party, serving from 1948 to 1954. After diplomatic service in Canada and at the United Nations, he became ambassador to the United States, presenting credentials on 7 September 1956. ^{2, 1}

In May 1957 du Plessis protested to Deputy Under Secretary of State Robert Murphy about Senator Theodore Green’s published criticism of South Africa’s racial policies. He said Pretoria had understood Green’s visit to concern American diplomatic operations, rather than South African domestic policy. Murphy explained that Congress acted independently of the executive and that a senator’s conclusions did not constitute U.S. government policy. ⁴

Du Plessis also sought American help to discourage critical statements during Adlai Stevenson’s forthcoming visit to South Africa. Murphy suggested that the ambassador approach Stevenson, an opposition political leader, directly. Du Plessis preferred an intermediary. A State Department official subsequently raised the matter with Stevenson’s aide, who said the visitor planned no speeches and would minimize press conferences. Stevenson nevertheless criticized South African policies during the visit, prompting complaints from Pretoria. ⁴

Du Plessis returned to South Africa in 1960. He served as secretary for information from 1961 to 1963, then as administrator of South West Africa from 1963 to 1968. ^{2, 3}