Rhodesia

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30933, 14 December 1965, Page 20

Rhodesia

Snr,—lf in a few words the local Liberal Party can give me their interpretation of liberalism, and the League of so-called Empire Loyalists their version of Empire loyalty, I would be glad to offer their leaden some small financial help towards expenses overseas to the Mother Conntry where they will be able

to tell the British Prime Minister and his colleagues what to do about the matter. I must say their contributions on the subject to date have been entirely non-construc-tive but have certainly tended to advance if not establish a background for bias and emotionalism.— Yours, etc, S. CASHION. December 13, 1965.

Sir, —This country is named after Cecil John Rhodes. He was born in 1853 and died in 1902. At 18 he was ill and given up as hopeless by the doctors. He went to Africa to die, but lived long enough to make a fortune, and found an empire of over 400,000 square miles. He was head of the South Africa Chartered Company which annexed the territory now known as Rhodesia. He left the bulk of his fortune to the founding of scholarships at Oxford, two of which were recently awarded in New Zealand. Is it likely, as is so absurdly suggested, that the presentday heirs to the enterprise of such a man would wilfully withhold education from coloured people? Ninety-five per cent of Africans between five and 16 years get a minimum of five years’ primary education. When one considers how small the white population is, this is not a bad effort.—Yours, etc, D. VICARS. December 13, 1965.

Sir,—More important than Britain’s failure to solve Rhodesia’s problem is the cause of the problem which is not simply colour prejudice but is also the failure of democracy based on the principle of one person, one vote. Take Ghana or Hungary or the Congo! What burlesque could outdo the present reality? It is easy to join a chant like “Democracy must come," or “Communism must come,” or to talk glibly about bloodbaths, but perhaps something more is needed. It is easy, too, to say that Mr Smith is following Hitler’s fiendish example, but there appear to be no gas ovens or slaughter camps in Rhodesia. Perhaps those of us who have not lived in Africa should remember that Dr. Schweitzer did not recognise the African as his equal but only as his brother, or did he hate the Africans?—Yours, etc, LORD HELP US. December 13, 1965.

Sir,—l congratulate the “Aid Rhodesia Movement” for the brilliant scheme to impose individual sanctions on Britain by refusing to buy any United Kingdom goods until sanctions are lifted from Rhodesia. This will hit Wilson where it will hurt most, the British workers’ pay packet, and hence his popularity. I understand that some £lO,OOO in cars, etc, have been lost to Britain already, and this is only a beginning. Every person who places any value on what the Commonwealth is supposed to stand for, and who wishes to preserve Christianity and common decency, should remember that African rule only brings misery to the mass of the African population concerned, and should support AR.M. to the utmost.—Yours, etc, MATABELE. December 12, 1965.