RHODESIAN DEBATE U.K. Seeks Support In Assembly

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29859, 27 June 1962, Page 13

RHODESIAN DEBATE U.K. Seeks Support In Assembly

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright} NEW YORK, June 26. Britain carried on private talks with other United Nations members today while there was a one-day adjournment from debate on the Southern Rhodesian question in the General Assembly.

The attacks on Britain's policy and Southern Rhodesia’s proposed constitution continued in the Assembly yesterday as delegates of the Communist countries joined with Asian members in denouncing “colonialism” and “imperialism.” Bulgaria gave Britain credit for being the first colonial Power to “awaken to history” and free its dependent territories But having said this, the Bulgarian delegate (Mr Y Tchobanov) moved swiftly to the attack, accusing Britain of making a “complex play of so-called constitutional and legislative measures, procedural sleight of hand” to maintain European control of Southern Rhodesia. He told the General Assembly, which was entering the second week of debate on conditions in the British colony, that “leading circles in the United Kingdom” were trying to slow down the anti-colonialist movement, to “remarshal their forces and star* a counter-offensive against nationalism and independence The Indonesian delegate (Mr Sukardjo Wirjopranoto) said the situation in Southern Rhodesia was so serious that his Government believed there was "imminent danger of bloodshed in the event that the United Nations is not able to provide wise guidance.” “It may be stated” he said, “that whereas Indonesia considers co-existence possible between capitalism and communism, she can never visualise co-existencc between colonialism and nationalism " He said he regretted that Bri'ain should be the Power responsible for the "sad state of affairs” in Southern Rhodesia and its "unhappy predica. ment.” “Our regret is due to the fact that recently we have witnessed some encouraging

progress in British colonial policy," he said. “The United Kingdom has come to realise the changing times and has emancipated some of her colonial territories, and we hope to see this process accelerated." It was “regrettable that Southern Rhodesia should be excluded from these encouraging trends in British colonial policy." The delegates of Albania. Mongolia and Jugoslavia also criticised Britain's "poisonous” and “imperialist” policies in Southern Rhodesia, accusing her of permitting "merciless repression” and developing a constitution which would lead to creation of a "racist" state. Such policies would lead only to the situation there erupting into conflict, they warned. Albania and Mongolia also reiterated Soviet bloc demands that Britain abrogate the 1961 Constitution immediately and give Southern Rhodesia complete independence by the end of this year. Mr C S. Jha. of India, who was also chairman of the Special Committee on Colonialism, described the situation in Southern Rhodesia as "serious" and “potentially explosive” if the right constitutional course was not followed. The British Government “had been at pains” to prove that Southern Rhodesia was not a non-self-governing territory. but the concepts on which the argument rested were “completely outmoded and invalid and . consigned to the dustbin of history." he said The fact that Britain reserved "large powers" to herself in Southern Rhodesia's 1923 Constitution "rules out any conclusion that the territory has received a full measure of self-government,” he said. Mr Jha said there could be a good case for withholding

United Nations discussion on Southern Rhodesia, as Britain and some other delegations desired, “if there were any movement towards a rectification or revision of the present position." Unfortunately, statements by the Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia (Sir Edgar Whitehead), the Prime Minister of the Federation (Sir Roy Welensky) and “responsible United Kingdom Ministers" made it clear that the postponement of the October elections until next year were only procedural and the 1961 Constitution was not being changed. The Assembly adjourned debate on Southern Rhodoia until tomorrow (Wednesday) to allow its Trusteeship Committee to present its report on Ruanda-Urundi's emergence to independence as the independent states of Rwanda and Burundi by July 1.