Kenya Cables U.N. SANCTIONS DEMAND AGAINST RHODESIA

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30933, 14 December 1965, Page 21

Kenya Cables U.N. SANCTIONS DEMAND AGAINST RHODESIA

(N.Z.P.A. Reuter—Copyright) NEW YORK, December 13. Kenya’s new demand for mandatory sanctions against Rhodesia comes before the Security Council today, facing Britain with her biggest challenge yet by African States seeking stronger action.

President Jomo Kenyatta, of Kenya, yesterday cabled the United Nations Secretary-General, U Thant, to urge an immediate Security Council meeting, saying that the Rhodesian situation was desperate and dangerous—threatening racial confrontation on a world scale.

He said his Government was doubtful about the success of voluntary sanctions and was deeply concerned about “continued rebellion in Rhodesia.”

On November 20 the Security Council called on all countries to do their utmost to sever economic ties with Rhodesia and stop her oil supplies.

This fell short of mandatory action called for bv African delegations and opposed by Britain. But the November 20 resolution left the door open for further United Nations measures if Mr Smith's regime wa s not brought down. President Kenyatta's request came only three days before the deadline set by the Organisation of African Unity calling on African States to break diplomatic relations with Britain if the Rhodesian regime was not crushed.

Break Opposed The Kenyan leader has opposed such a break.

Observers at the United Nations saw his cable as an attempt to make more Governments sever trade relations with Rhodesia, and to persuade Britain to send troops tc Rhodesia instead of a possible United Nations force. The President asked the | council to approve sanctions under chapter seven of the United Nations charter. Under this, if sanctions prove inadequate, the council is author-

ised to send in a United Nations force if necessary. Britain has been against such action, but has stepped up its economic measures against Rhodesia since the unilateral declaration of independence on November 11. It has sent an air unit to Zambia, but has not agreed to the appeal by President Kenenth Kaunda for ground troops to guard the Kariba hydro-electric dam on the border with Rhodesia. While the council session could delay any severing of relations from Britain by African States, it could also prove an additional embarrassment to Mr Wilson, who is due to address the General Assembly on Thursday.