RHODESIA WARNED AGAIN

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30739, 1 May 1965, Page 15

RHODESIA WARNED AGAIN

(N Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright;

LONDON, April 30. Rhodesia was given a fresh warning by Britain yesterday that disaster would follow if the white government of the colony ignored world opinion and moved to seize independence without British consent. Mr Wilson told Parliament that Rhodesia could not hope to defy Britain, the whole Commonwealth and nearly the whole of Africa and the United Nations by making a unilateral declaration of independence. “The Government therefore profoundly hopes Rhodesia will not be misled into thinking that she could escape disaster if she were to fly in the face of world opinion.” Mr Wilson declared. Britain was ready, as soon as the Rhodesian elections on

May 7 were over, to carry forward its “not entirely unhopeful” negotiations with the Rhodesian Government to achieve an agreed solution. The Prime Minister took sharp issue with the conclusions of the recent Rhodesian Government White Paper on the economic consequences of

going alone to independence, and cautioned Rhodesians against “nursing the delusion” that they would get widespread international support. The contents of the White Paper, he said, “completely misrepresent the likely economic effect on Rhodesia of a unilateral declaration.”