No African Boycott Of Talks On Federation

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29380, 6 December 1960, Page 17

No African Boycott Of Talks On Federation

(N.Z. Press Association— Copyright) (Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON, December 5. The Central African review conference will open today at Lancaster House with the three African nationalist leaders who threatened to boycott it taking their places around the table. The three, Dr. Hastings Banda (Nyasaland), Mr Joshua Nkomo (Southern Rhodesia) and Mr Kenneth Kaunda (Northern Rhodesia), agreed not to boycott the conference less than 24 hours before it was due to open.

They were persuaded during a three-hour lunch table meeting yesterday with the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations, Mr Duncan Sandys. and the Colonial Secretary. Mr lain Macleod.

The primary purpose of the conference is to review the constitution of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. Since the constitution was adopted seven years ago. powerful African opposition has developed to the Federation. Dr. Banda arrived in London demanding secession from the Federation for Nyasaland “now and not in five years’ time.” The main conference document will be the controversial report of the Monckton Commission. Referring to the vital issue of the right of the three territories to secede from the Federation, the Monckton Commission said that “although the weight of opinion among Europeans is for federation to continue, the strength of

African opposition is such that federation cannot, in our view, be maintained in its present form.” The Federal Prime Minister. Sir Roy Welensky, has held that the commission went beyond its terms of reference in dealing at all with the question of secession.

The talks are expected to be difficult and protracted, and for Mr Duncan Sandys. the recently appointed Minister for Commonwealth Relations, they are regarded as a severe test.

In Blantyre. Nyasaland. police today hurled tear-gas canisters at a crowd of rock-throwing African nationalist demonstrators attending a meeting of the Malwali Congress Party. American Associated Press reported. The police were watching a meeting of Malwali supporters who had been called to hear a telegram from Dr. Banda. In his telegram Dr. Banda appealed to his supporters to remain calm and not to resort to violence.