Rhodesia

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30936, 17 December 1965, Page 16

Rhodesia

Sir. —You do the Commonwealth a disservice in publishing the long letter from an anonymous Rhodesian. It is not news, but propagandavicious and deceitful. The 8.8. C. transmitter in Bechuanaland is not for the broadcasting of propaganda, but to allow Rhodesians to hear the same news that we get but which is denied them by the head of their police state. Also, in reproducing the illegal postage stamp bearing the Queen’s effigy, you compound an insult to Her Majesty. Philatelists should shun it as they would any other forgery. But the action of African nations in breaking off relations with Britain is regrettable. The British people are united in their determination that Rhodesia shall not remain under despotic rule, and Harold Wilson is now doing his best to repair the damage he did when he gave Smith advance assurance of physical immunity tor the crime of treason. —Yours, etc., VARIAN J. WILSON. December 16,1965.

Sir.—The letter from a Rhodesian business man was very revealing. No doubt it conveys fairly accurately the feelings of most white Rhodesians. They have been led to believe by their Government that they are impregnable, that they might feel the pinch of sanctions tor a month or two, and that thereafter life will go on much as before—even that their Government will be recognised and their Commonwealth privileges restored. To do them justice, they believe in the rightness of their cause, just as firmly as the Boers believe in the rightness of apartheid. But the really dreadful revelation is that they are “laughing” at the antics of those who are trying to bring them back to constitutional paths. Can't they see that this, and a gradual and orderly transition to majority rule, is the only thing that is going to save them from being over whelmed by the rest of Black Africa?—Yours, etc., BRITISH LIBERAL. December 16,1965.

Sir,—lt was most extraordinary to find that the leading news feature on page one of your paper today consisted entirely of extracts from a private letter. Who was this man who spoke for the entire population of Rhodesia? What were his credentials? What’s wrong With the* news service that we couldn’t have authoritative reports from uncommitted parties? Never before have we seen an uncertiflcated report, written by an interested party, published In the number one news position of a responsible paper. May we have an explanation? —Yours, etc, ASTOUNDED. December 1965. (The reciptetrt was Mt prepared to have the writer identified but is willing to show the letter to any Justice of the Peace nominated by any correspondent who doubts its authenticity.—Ed, “The Press."]