U.K. Opposing Assembly Debate On Rhodesia

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29844, 9 June 1962, Page 11

U.K. Opposing Assembly Debate On Rhodesia

IN 2. J 3 .A. -Reuter— Copyright) NEW YORK, June 8. Britain will make a strong attempt today to head off the General Assembly debate on the situation in Southern Rhodesia, but apparently with small hope of success at the initial stage.

The Assembly’s Steering Committee, meeting today, is expected to recommend that the proposed new itemsponsored by 40 African and Asian States —be added to the agenda But a two-thirds majority is required in the Assembly to make the addition, and Britain’s hopes of ultimate success are centred there.

British sources said the chief British delegate (Sir Patrick Dean) and Sir Hugh Foot, the representative for colonial questions, had found “a good deal of understanding and sympathy” for the British position. The British representatives said that any debate on Southern Rhodesia at the United Nations went beyond the limits of the United Nations Charter and might very probably do harm in the colony. Britain would therefore strongly oppose inscription of an item on Southern Rhodesia either at the resumed session, at a special session or at a regular session.

They said that the elections which were to have been held in Southern Rhodesia in October to give effect to the 1961 Constitution would not now be held until next March or April, so that the constitutional situation in the colony would not change this year. Britain believed this destroyed the Afro-Asian argument that the situation was grave and urgent.

Key provisions of the Constitution, which, its critics say will deliver the African majority in Southern Rhodesia over to control by white settlers, without the safeguards previously afforded by the British Government, will go into effect only after the elections.

African and Asian delegations want the proposed Constitution cancelled and a new one drawn up by a conference with the full participa-

tion of representatives of the African inhabitants of Southern Rhodesia. The Assembly resumed its sixteenth session yesterday primarily to debate the future of Ruanda-Urundi, a Belgianadministered trust territory due to attain independence on July 1 Many fear the background of tribal rivalries could precipitate a repetition there of the violence that marked the Congo’s accession to nationhood just two years ago