Smith Preparing To Secede From Britain

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30529, 26 August 1964, Page 17

Smith Preparing To Secede From Britain

(N.Z. Press Association —Copyright) LONDON, August 25. The Southern Rhodesian Premier, Mr lan Smith —who has publicly committed himself to final talks in London with Sir Alec Douglas-Home—has a series of emergency orders ready for his signature the moment he decides to declare independence, says the “Daily Mail” diplomatic correspondent, John Dickie. They include replacing the Governor, Sir Humphrey Gibbs, who has spent 35 years in Southern Rhodesia, with a titular president.

The president would take over as com-mander-in-chief of Southern Rhodesia armed forces. Sir Humphrey Gibbs and the chief of the general staff, MajorGeneral John Anderson, would be put under house arrest. All executive power would be placed in the hands of Mr Smith, a former Battle of Britain pilot, William Harper, and a former Northern Rhodesian Opposition M.P., Mr William Gaunt Other plans include the take-over of broadcasting and television services and press censorship in Southern Rho-' desia, Dickie says. The Associated Press says Sir Alex Douglas-Home is gravely .worried that Southern Rhodesia’s all-white Government might attempt to seize independence .by some form of unilateral and illegal action in early October. •

“The Prime Minister certainly will use all. the authority and influence at the command of the Government to

make lan Smith fully aware once again at. their coming talks of the dangers of a 20th .century Boston tea party,” A.P. quoted an official as saying. The two Premiers, after prolonged correspondence, are due .0 confer in London on September 7 and 8. No Agreement It has become clear London and Salisbury have been unable to agree on a basis of negotiation for Southern Rhodesia’s independence. Accordingly, the talks appear to be transformed into a forthright encounter involving Rhodesia’s future in the Commonwealth. One stark issue divides Sir Alec Douglas-Home from Mr Smith: Backed by the British Government, Sir Alec DouglasHome is prepared to grant Rhodesia independence if and when majority rule by the country's three million Africans is assured.

Mr Smith, supported by his own Government, is not prepared now to surrender the power held by Rhodesia’s 220,000 whites. A.P. says more and more talk was being heard in Salisbury about the reported government intentions to round up and arrest public figures hostile to unilateral action. There have been published reports suggesting that some leading judges, soldiers and politicians, including Sir Roy Welensky himself, would be locked up if the Smith Government decided to proclaim Rhodesian statehood. The aim would be, according to these reports, to stifle opposition in the wider interests of the country.

Portuguese Enlisted

Southern Rhodesia is negotiating a secret pact with Portugal to break away from Britain, the “Daily Mail” diplomatic correspondent, John Dickie, says. Details of the plot reached some members of Parliament in London last night and were sent to the Commonwealth Relations Secretary, Mr • Duncan Sandys, he says. Southern Rhodesia’s Premier, Mr lan Smith, is expected to make a deal in Lisbon on Saturday week on his way to London for talks with Sir Alec Douglas-Home, Dickie says. Dickie says Mr Smith has four objectives: Immediate recognition of Southern Rhodesia’s inde-

pendence by Portugal and her African colonies, Angola and Mozambique. Military aid-from Portugal if required. Emergency economic and financial aid from Portugal if needed. Closure of the Benguela railway for imports to and exports from Northern Rhodesia. The target date for the move is any time after October 2, Dickie says. That is the day after the key by-elections in Southern Rhodesia when the former Premier, Sir Roy Welensky, returns to the political arena.