Deadlock In Talks On North Rhodesia

Press, Volume C, Issue 29468, 21 March 1961, Page 15

Deadlock In Talks On North Rhodesia

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) LONDON, March 20. The Rhodesian Federal Prime Minister, Sir Roy Welensky, is expected to confer again today with the British Prime Minister, Mr Macmillan, in a final attempt to break the deadlock between them in the Northern Rhodesia dispute. The “Daily Mail” said Mr Macmillan had rebuffed Sir Roy Welensky over his attempts to modify the proposed Northern Rhodesian Constitution put forward by the Colonial Secretary, Mr Macleod.

Sir Roy Welensky is due to fly home to Salisbury tonight, newspapers reported.

Sir Roy Welensky would leave empty-handed and disheartened unless there was a last-minute change of mood by the British Prime Minister. But Mr Macmillan was determined to do nothing that would incur the risk of “a showdown” with Mr Macleod. the newspaper said. He apparently was equally concerned that African nationalists and liberal Europeans in Northern Rhodesia should not disown the Macleod plan because of a suspicion that major concessions were being made in London

As a result, Mr Macmillan had dug his toes in and refused to meet Sir Roy Welensky even half-way. The deadlock had brought the negotiations back to the

atmosphere in which Sir Roy Welensky called up Federal troops on stand-by last month.

The "Daily Telegraph” said Sir Roy Welensky submitted three alternative plans to Mr Macmillan on the composition of the Legislative Council. Sir Roy Welensky feared that the council envisaged by Mr Macleod would give African nationalists control.