BIBLES BURNT IN PROTEST

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30895, 30 October 1965, Page 15

BIBLES BURNT IN PROTEST

f.V Z. Press Association —Copyright) SALISBURY, Oct. 29. White Rhodesians have burned their bibles in protest at the Archbishop of Canterbury’s announced support of the use of British force if the country declared independence.

The archbishop's statements; have caused a storm of con ] troversy in Britain and across] Africa. The "Rhodesia Herald” of Salisbury reports that a group of 230 Rhodesians had decided to burn their Bibles and send the ashes to the archbishop, Dr. M. Ramsey So far 19 Bibles had been burned, the newspaper says The group had also decided to withdraw from ail religious connexions and destroy all religious literature in their homes. The archbishop's statements could prove embarrass ing for the British Prime Min

.lister, Mr Wilson, as he con- : ducts his delicate mission in I Salisbury to avert a crisis lover the independence issue I The archbishop told a meeting of the British Council of , Churches on Tuesday that j Christians should support any British Government deci-1 ' sion to use force to protectl majority rights in Rhodesia, which has a black population of four million against 217.000 whites. A group of 26 British Labour and Liberal members of Parliament praised the archbishop’s statement, how ever. They telegraphed a message of support to Dr. Ramsey praising his “excellent and courageous stand."