Right Of Secession; Welensky Angry

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30095, 1 April 1963, Page 15

Right Of Secession; Welensky Angry

( N .Z.P.A .-Reuter— Copyright)

LONDON, March 31. Northern Rhodesian African Government leaders are now preparing for early talks on self-government. This came after Britain’s decision on Friday to grant the wealthy copper-producing protectorate the right to get out of the Central African Federation.

Mr Kenneth Kaunda and Mr Harry Nkumbula, leaders of the African Coalition Government, were yesterday celebrating their secession-right triumph which planted the kiss of death on the 10-year-old federation.

Britain’s decision was a crushing defeat for the Federal Prime Minister (Sir Roy Welensky). It has opened the way for a full-scale conference in June or July on the future relationship between Northern and Southern Rhodesia and Nyasaland, which has also been allowed to secede.

The Northern Rhodesian leaders had refused to participate in such tadks until the promise of secession had been given. Mr Kaunda said yesterday in London: “We will definititely take part in the forthcoming conference.”

He said he would return to Northern Rhodesia in the middle of the week to report to the country on the “great and historic decision” on secession

Mr Kaunda said: “As soon as we get back we will start talks with the Governor. Sir Evelyn Hone on a new constitution for self-government leading to complete indene ndence ” Mr Kaunda said he would like to see elections in October and the introduction of self-government by the end of the year Messrs Kaunda and Nkumbula condemn the policy of Mr Winston Field’s New Rhodesia Front Government tn Southern Rhodesia

They are opposing the demand by Mr Field, backed by Sit Roy Welensky, for in. dependence for self-govern-ing Southern Rhodesia. Mi Kaunda said the question oi independence for S uthern Rhodesia could only be decided by a referendum baseo on adult suffrage so that all the people had a voice in the issue “Without that, no decision could be lasting—it would be a decision leading to hell.” he said Mr Kaunda has backed the demands of the Southern Rhodesian African Nationalist leader Mr Joshua Nkomo. for a new constitution to bring about majority rule for

the 3,000,000 Africans in Southern Rhodesia.

The “Observer” today forecast a triangular battle for power in South Rhodesia between Sir Roy Welensky, Mr Field, and Mr Nkomo. The newspaper said Sir Roy Welensky had no intention of leaving politics and was detenuined to get control over the Government of Southern Rhodesia This was likely to bring him into conflict with Mr Field The newspaper said it was

almost certain Sir Roy Welensky’s demand for independence for Southern Rhodesia would not be accepted by Britain. An angry Sir Roy Welensky told reporters today the British Government was prepared to sell not only the white man down the river, but the African moderate as well. He called the decision announced yesterday to allow Northern Rhodesia to secede from the federation a “humil-

lation" administered by the “jelly-boiied gentlemen who run the British Government.” “The time has come for the closing of our ranks in Central Africa, because the very things that we stand for. the integrity and the civilisation we have created are being placed in jeopardy,” he said Sir Roy Welensky explained he had refused to have lunch with the Prime Minister (Mr Macmillan) and Mr Butler, Minister for Central African Affairs, after being told the decision because “it was impossible for me to eat the food of people who betrayed me.” Sir Roy Welensky said he had no illusions about the “double game” which was being played at the moment

He said: “I think we must now face the fact that the Macmillan Government is not only prepared to sell the white man down the river, but any African moderate as well. The decision, he said, might have brought relief to some, but it produced some very serious problems for all. ranging from the future of' the armed forces to economic problems