Rhodesia

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30919, 27 November 1965, Page 14

Rhodesia

Sir,—“Ham” should reexamine the “Curragh Incident.” The British cavalry officers resigned their commissions when given the opportunity because by making them this offer the civil Government cast doubts on their loyalty. Afterwards General Gough said he and his men would have acted against their Ulster compatriots if ordered to do so. But they could not tolerate the Government’s first asking them if they would obey orders. No similar situation should arise in the British Army over Rhodesia. Constitutional comparisons? Aldous Huxley wrote in “Beyond the Mexique Bay”: “In the Mexican revolt again Spain independence was actually proclaimed by the conservatives.

More royalist than the King, they were afraid of what would happen to them if they remained connected with the liberal Spain of 1820. To preserve their loyalty to a nonexistent king-by-divine-right they rebelled against the actual king who had been forced to become a constitutional monarch.”—Yours, etc., NAYLOR HILLARY. Governor’s Bay, November 26, 1965.

Sir, —It was with pleasure that I read the Liberal Party’s statement on Rhodesia. I feel that their attiture would be heartily supported by the majority of New Zealanders who, above all else, like to see fair play and understand courage. My opinion of the British Labour Party’s policy and in fact the new members of the Commonwealth in their immaturity is that it is a matter of saving face. Mr Smith and his party have shown that there are at least a few people left who are not ashamed of the fact that their skins are white and that they will fight for the right to hold what they have created and developed.—Yours, etc., A NEW LIBERAL PARTY MEMBER. November 26, 1965.