Welensky On Future Of Federation

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29775, 19 March 1962, Page 11

Welensky On Future Of Federation

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter — Copyright)

SALISBURY, March 17.

The Federal Rhodesian Prime Minister (Sir Roy Welensky) said tonight he had an “open mind” over modifications of the Federation’s Constitution and its structure.

He said in an interview he would like to see a streamlining of the machinery of government. “If a broader plan is evolved and proves acceptable all round and is workable, then I would certainly not reject it simply because it might radically change the face of the Federation,” he said. But he warned that appeasement of extremists was not the solution to the problem of the Federation’s future He also said he thought Britain had never considered very fully the effects of a break-up of the Federation Speaking about the decision of various political parties to boycott the general election on April 27, Sir Roy Zelensky said: "I do not believe the average person who has a vote will allow himself to be deprived of that vote. The issues are tar too Important.” All the African nationalist parties and several of the other parties have already said they will not take part in the Federal elections. Asked whether he thought Britain really wished the Rhodesian Federation to continue, or whether he thought Britain was prepared to allow the association to fail, he replied: "I do not believe there is an active desire on the part of the British Government to see the Federation fail. But following the policy they have had for some time now, they are disengaging in Africa. “At the same time 1 have to recognise that the Government in the United Kingdom has done very little indeed to try and help the Federation make a success of what started out to be a very great adventure on the African Continent,” he said.

Sir Roy Welensky said he saw the problem of panAfricanism and the special problem of the Federation as part and parcel of the great East-West struggle. “I don’t think any reasonable person can quarrel with that approach,” he said “But where I differ so strongly from the views held both in America and in Great Britain is the belief that the over-all problem will be eased or tackled more easily by keeping certain members of the Afro-Asian bloc—and pan-Africanists in particular —quiet and sweet ” Visit To U.N.

The New Zealand-born former Premier of Southern Rhodesia, Mr Garfield Todd, today announced he would fly to New York on Monday to give evidence before the United Nations committee

studying the independence of Southern Rhodesia. He said he was going to New York in response to an appeal from the African nationalisrt leader, Mr Joshua Nkomo, who has been petitioning there on behalf of the country’s African nationalists.

Mr Todd said: “My hope is that the United Nations will exert pressure upon Great Britain to recognise her continuing responsibility in Central Africa and that this will lead to a reopening of negotiations in Salisbury on the Southern Rhodesian Constitution."