Rhodesian Minister Said To Plan Use Of Force

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29765, 7 March 1962, Page 13

Rhodesian Minister Said To Plan Use Of Force

(NZ. Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, March 6. 1 The Rhodesian Federal Minister for Law, Mr Julian Greenfield, was reported yesterday to have said he was prepared to “back hard action by unconstitutional means” to win through in the Rhodesian crisis, according to the “Daily Mail.” In a report from Salisbury, the newspaper said Mr Greenfield, the closest adviser to the Federal Prime Minister (Sir Roy Welensky) was alleged to have said this to the United Federal Party Congress in Northern Rhodesia last September.

The allegation was made by an African who was formerly a member of the U.F P., said the report.

The African nationalist leader, Mr Kenneth Kaunda, claimed last week he had reliable evidence of plans by Sir Roy Welensky to take over Northern Rhodesia with Federal troops and to arrest the Governor (Sir Evelyn Hone) and top officials, said the “Daily Mail.” Sir Roy Welensky had dismissed the allegation as "absolute drivel."

The former party member’s claim came on the eve of the recalled session of the Federal Parliament, which Sir Roy Welensky was expected to open today with an outspoken attack on the British Government’s constitutional plans for Northern Rhodesia, said the "Daily Mail.”

The newspaper said the former party member claimed to have secret documents, among them a “report” of a congress which Mr Greenfield addressed in place of Sir Roy Welensky, who was unable to attend What was claimed to be the minutes of the meeting, printed on the pale green stationery commonly used by the U.F.P. offices, contained the following: "Mr Greenfield states he believed

it was going to be extremely difficult to bring the British Government to heel by constitutional means and that there were still one or two constitutional cards to be played, but he did not have a great deal of hope that these would do the trick. “He was inclined to feel that hard action by unconstitutional means would Inevitably be necessary. He concluded by saying ... he was prepared to back it when the time comes and when the Federal Prime Minister judges the time is right" What possibly will be a decisive week for the future of the Rhodesian Federation begins today when three of the four Parliaments in the Federation will meet according to a Reuter correspondent.

Sir Roy Welensky is the

immediate centre of interest. He is due to tell the Federal Assembly about his recent visit to London and his discussions with the British Government, While observers think he may have no startling revelations to make, it seems likely that he will strongly appeal for personal support in the battle for the Federation that is still to come. Ait the moment, and perhaps for the first time, Rhodesians are beginning to question just how far they are willing to back their tough-talking Prime Minister.

Political observers say Sir Roy Welensky's reported threats to use force to keep the Federation intact have not by any means boosted his popularity at home. He may, therefore, make a bid

tomorrow to rally support among the country's whites. On Wednesday the Southern Rhodesian Premier (Sir Edgar Whitehead) who has been having separate discussions in London with the British Government, is expected to make a major policy pronouncement in the Southern Rhodesian Parliament.

So far he has not revealed his feelings about the new Northern Rhodesian Constitution, which is considered likely to lead to an African majority in the territory's Legislative Council.

His appreciation of this factor must influence his white electorate, which would not relish any federation that contains Governments in Nyasaland and Northern Rhodesia that look like being dominated by African nationalists.

The Nyasaland Legislative Council is due to meet in Zomba with the leader of the majority Malawi Party, Dr. Hastings Banda, still grimly determined to take Nyasaland out of the Federation.

The President of the United National Independence Party, Mr Kaunda said last night that his party rejected the new constitutional proposals for Northern Rhodesia, but would consider taking part in "forthcoming elections” subject to certain conditions. In a telephone interview last night with the South African Press Association, Mr Kaunda said from Lusaka that his party reserved the right not to take part in the elections if the conditions were not fulfilled. He was speaking after a day-long private session in Lusaka of his party’s national council.

Mr Kaunda said: “Having carefully studied the corstitutional proposals we strongly condemn and reject them because we believe they cannot work. But our national council would be prepared to consider participating in forthcoming elections subject to the stated conditions.” The conditions include: bans on political parties to be lifted, political prisoners to be granted amnesties and no political arrests to be made from now on.