Through the good offices of Frelimo the emissaries moved from Mozambique to Tanzania and on to London where they had initial contacts with Joe Slovo and Reg September.

The dialogue was developed and expanded to also involve Johnny Makathini and at times Alfred Nzo and Thomas Nkobi. Finally there were on-going regular contacts with Oliver Tambo.

These direct contacts with Oliver Tambo led to arrangements being made for on-going discussions both with Steve Biko and Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi. Oliver Tambo was concerned about internal South African developments and recognised the danger of the Black Peoples Convention seeking an external base from which they could organise military training.

After considerable efforts had been made to arrange a meeting between Steve Biko and Oliver Tambo possible, Oliver Tambo declined to meet his commitment. His concern was that such a meeting, which was to have taken place in Europe, would have given Steve Biko the opportunity to set up the external base for BPC, which Oliver Tambo did not want him to have. Steve Biko was arrested before he could react to Oliver Tambo's refusal to meet him. Biko later died in custody and the BPC was fragmented by internal conflict and ceased to be a powerful player.