Warning Given On Rhodesian Issue

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30916, 24 November 1965, Page 22

Warning Given On Rhodesian Issue

“A wrong decision on the Rhodesian issue could split the Commonwealth wide open.” This was considered warning given by the Deputy Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Patrick V. J. Solomon, in an address at the Christchurch Returned Services’ Association Tin Hat Club tattoo last evening. He said the issue was probably the most dangerous of the day.

“You can’t forever keep a people in bondage if they want to be free,” said Dr. Solomon. “I have never been to Rhodesia; but I sincerely believe the Rhodesian Africans want to be free.”

“No one in this room can honestly say that lan Smith is right, and what he is doing is right. For all these years a minority government has paid little heed to the wants of the majorit”. After 40 years of tutorage the people are ready for freedom. If they are not ready then why not? They have been given very bad teachers and it is time others took their place.” Dr. Solomon said the new teachers would undoubtedly make mistakes but the mistakes would be upon their own heads and they would learn in their own way. He said the crisis in Rhodesia threatened the peace of the whole world. It was not just a matter for the Commonwealth, Britain or Rhodesia but for the United Nations.

“A boycott of Rhodesia is

not only inadequate but farcical. South Africa will not let Rhodesia fall so no embargo will be effective until there is an embargo on South Africa as well.

“Some of you will not like this. In my opinion South Africa is asking for the hammer and she should get the hammer when she helps Rho-

desia. You can’t stop Rhodesia unless you stop South Africa," Dr. Solomon said.

Dr. Solomon, who is also Minister of External Affairs for Trinidad and Tobago, is leader of his country’s delegation to the Commonwealth

Parliamentary Association’s conference in Wellington. Representatives of 15 Commonwealth countries, some of the 150 delegates representing 80 legislatures attending the con-

ference, were special guests at the tatoo. The chairman was the vice-president of the club, Mr H. J. Walker, M.P. Mr Kofi Baako, Ghanaian

Minister of Defence and leader of the House of Representatives, was to have been the guest speaker, but he was recalled in Sydney on his way to New Zealand With the delegation and will not now be attending the conference.