VANCE BEGINS SOUTH AFRICA MISSION

United Nations envoy Cyrus Vance, on a mission to restart black-white talks in South Africa, met President F.W. de Klerk yesterday to discuss how to stop political violence.

Mr. Vance has little prospect of bringing the white government and the African National Congress back to the negotiating table during his 10-day visit. But his presence could help end recriminations between the two sides and improve the chances for fresh talks in coming weeks.

Vance met Mr. De Klerk in the capital of Pretoria for almost two hours yesterday. Vance declined to comment, but De Klerk said he outlined government efforts to end violence that has claimed about 8,000 black lives in the past three years. The president also explained the government's position for black-white power-sharing and a new constitution.