U.N. Demand On Britain

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30733, 24 April 1965, Page 15

U.N. Demand On Britain

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright) NEW YORK, April 23.

The General Assembly’s special committee on colonialism called on Britain yesterday to take urgent and immediate steps to cancel the Rhodesian elections scheduled for May 7. Approval of the resolution cleared the way for a debate in the Security Council expected to begin next week. The debate was requested by more than 30 African States who say the situation

in Rhodesia is a threat to international peace. The vote in the colonialism committee was 18-nil, with four abstentions.

Britain, who told the committee yesterday she did not have the right to cancel the elections, did not take part in the vote. The United Nations has refused to accept Britain’s position that it is not the administering authority in Rhodesia

Yesterday’s resolution expressed deep concern at “the further deterioration in the situation in the territory” resulting from the decision to hold elections and “the threats of the minority Government to declare unilateral independence.” The resolution requested Britain to ensure that troops and military equipment transferred to the Rhodesian Government when the Rhodesian Federation broke up in December, 1963, should be withdrawn “from the control of the minority Government.” It also called on all States

“to abstain from providing in whatever form, arms and ammunition as well as logistic assistance and economic and financial aid to the minority Government in Southern Rhodesia.” Britain was called on to effect the release of all political prisoners and to remove all restrictions on African political activity.

The resolution invited the British Government to suspend the present constitution and call immediately a conference in which representatives of all political parties would take part. This should lead to the fixing of the earliest possible date for independence.