N.Z. Liberal Party Supports Mr Smith

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30918, 26 November 1965, Page 10

N.Z. Liberal Party Supports Mr Smith

“After waiting for the ‘dust to settle’ on the Rhodesian scene, and after due consideration of the information at its disposal, the Liberal Party of New Zealand wishes to make clear its attitude towards Rhodesia,” says the chairman of the party (Mr A. A. Mackintosh) in a supplied statement,

“Since the declaration of U.D.I. by Mr lan Smith on November 10 there has been a most regrettable demonstration of bully-tactics from all the Western - dominated Powers, and of course from Commonwealth Nations, both new and old. To be British, and see how a respectable and constitutionally elected Government of a progressive member of the-British family can be so suddenly and severely damned is quite alarming. Where now our much quoted ‘British justice,' and what have the ‘emerging nations’ of Africa to fear from Mr Smith’s Government, to justify such irresponsible talk as ‘blood-bath’ and ‘armed intervention’?

his nation be denied it when the world has watched aghast at the Congo atrocities, the fiasco of Ghana, the unseemly haste in Central Africa, the breaking up of the Federation of Rhodesia, the tragedy of Zanzibar, and the problem of Cyprus, all to appease peoples not yet ready for self-government? Mr Smith’s Government may be a white minority, but at least it does have experience, maturity, stability, and black representation. There is no better judge than the ‘man on the spot,’ and these ridiculous moves to suppress and crucify a loyal and dignified Government suggest strongly a concerted attempt to keep the impetuous black nations from voting the wrong way in the United Nations. “Sabre-rattling Talk” “How incongruous and utterly ridiculous it is for Britain and her enemy. Egypt, now to be buccaneers together, Egypt having declared herself ‘in a state of war’ with Rhodesia, and Britain doing all she can to support it with sanctions and starvation tactics. When one pictures the British people being asked to actively support Nasser, that Jackal of the Canal, against their own flesh and blood in Rhodesia, truly it can be said, never have the British sunk' so low since they lost the Canal With all the sabre-rattling talk of military intervention, and the loud proclamations of sanctions against such a small nation, one wonders where were all these brave heroes when China occupied and slaughtered in Tibet, and Russia crushed and shot the Hungarians into submission.

Congo Atrocities “It must not be forgotten that Mr Smith has been trying, with growing impatience, for years to gain the right to be free. Why should he and

“There is no justification at all to say Mr Smith’s Government is a ‘rebel’ government. It is properly elected according to the Constitution approved by Britain. Such clumsy slander, so suddenly adopted, only causes people to doubt the sincerity of the claim, and the sameness of the condemnatory expressions give serious cause for suspicion of nasty collusion. “Time Vital”

“The quarter of a million whites dare not give up everything to the four million blacks, as those unfortunate people are not even literate. Time is vitrl, and instead of condemning Rhodesia, all nations of the Commonwealth, and in particular Britain, should give friendly assistance or they will end up with another South African impasse. Once again the United States has fallen foul of its own folly, and in particular its Constitution. It now condemns Rhodesia for taking the same steps as the United States itself took ' nearly 200 years ago. The only difference being that Mr Smith’s declaration has not involved violence.

“The Liberal Party of New Zealand is quite unshamed to announce its support of Mr Smith’s Government, and ventures to forecast the whole shameful performance of the condemning nations will come to nought. The black nations just must learn to grow up slowly and gracefully in the fullness of education arid time. If these ridiculous sanctions are pursued, who knows, we may yet see the Red Army in blue berets with a firm foothold in Central Africa.”