U.K. 'Ultimatum' Reported

Press, Volume C, Issue 29633, 2 October 1961, Page 11

U.K. 'Ultimatum' Reported

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright)

LONDON, Sept. 30. British newspapers said today that President Nkrumah was likely to be given an ultimatum to “behave or miss the Queen” by the Commonwealth Relations Secretary (Mr Duncan Sandys). Mr Sandys would have a frank talk with Dr. Nkrumah to “clear the air” on the President’s attitude to the Queen and the Commonwealth. * The “Daily Sketch” sale] that the visit of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh to Ghana, due to start on November 9, may be called off. Attacks on Britain and insults to the Queen in the Ghanaian press had horrified Buckingham Palace officials and the Government, the “Daily Sketch” said. It was announced last night

that Mr Sandys would fly to Ghana tomorrow for talks with Dr. Nkrumah.

The “Daily Express” said the British Government felt it would like to ask Dr. Nkrumah three blunt questions:— “How long is the anti-Brit-ish hate campaign in Ghana going to continue?” “Have you embarked on policies which might lead to breaking the Commonwealth tie?” “When are you going to renew closer contacts at government - to - government level?” Cause of Flight

The “Guardian” said that Mr Sandys’ flight was “clearly an emergency decision" and that “this week’s” turbulent affairs in Accra were the immediate cause of the flight. Mr Sandys faced a double dilemma over the proposed Roy pl tour. Not only must he evaluate the political situation, but he must also bear in mind the Queen's safety, the “Guardian" said. It had been planned that the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh should spend 10 days in Ghana as part of their West African tour. It was announced in Accra yesterday that the Ghanaian Government had imposed the death penalty for any attempt to overthrow the Government by unlawful means. The announcement also said the death penalty would be invoked on any attempt to procure by force any alteration of the policies of the Government. An official statement from President Nkrumah’s office said the Government was stating this “in the light of recent events.” U.K. Blamed

The long-simmering Ghana crisis bubbled over this week with a Ghanaian allegation that Britain was to blame for •he death of the United Nations Secretary - General (Mr Dag Hammarskjold) who was killed in an aircraft crash in Katanga on September 18.

Then came the sudden dismissal of the head of the i armed forces. Major General ] Henry Alexander, and the removal of all British officers from control over Ghanaian troops. Yesterday, one of the two senior Ministers dismissed by President Nkrumah for “business interests" said there had been another, undisclosed, reason—Dr. Nkrumah had asked him whether he was plotting against the Government.

The dismissed Minister, Mr K. A. Gbedemah, said that he was ready to be detained at any moment. “If that will solve the problems of this country, it would be a good thing,” he said. Mr Gbedemah told a news conference at his home in Accra that he had denied be was plotting against the Government. Mr Gbedemah. Minister of Health, and Mr Kojo Botsio, Minister of Agriculture, were among six senior officials dismissed by Dr. Nkurumah on the grounds that their

business interes's were incompatible with Socialist government. Mr Gbedemah in a letter of resignation said that in the 13 years of their "close and almost brotherly comradeship" President Nkrumah had not once “impugned my integrity nor my ability as a lieutenant and reliable comrade of yours in the party and Government," reported Reuter. Mr Gbedemah said he had informed President Nkrumah piat his only business connexion to speak of was a poultry farm which he had built up from nothing over the last four years. He had offered the farm to the State for “fair compensation,” but had received no reply to the offer.

Mr Gbedemah said he could therefore only come to the conclusion that there were other reasons behind the demand for his resignation.

Pote Sarasin Ends Tour

'N .Z P.A .Reuter—Copyright) BANGKOK, Sept. 30.

The Secretary-General of the South-east Asia Treaty Organisation (Mr Pote Sarasin) said today he had discussed means of improving methods of consultations with Australian, New Zealand and British leaders in order to increase the effectiveness of the organisation. Mr Pote Sarasin returned to Bangkok last night from a two-week visit to Australia and New Zealand. He also held discussions with Lord Selkirk, the British High Commissioner in Singapore. Mr Pote Sarasin said Australian and New Zealand leaders took great interest in the problems of increasing the effectiveness of S.E.A.T.O and the matters were now under active consideration by the various departments concerned. i