Rhodesia Sanctions STEWART CRITICISES GHANA AND CONGO

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30940, 22 December 1965, Page 13

Rhodesia Sanctions STEWART CRITICISES GHANA AND CONGO

(N.Z.P.A. Reuter—Copyright) LONDON, December 21. Ghana and the Congo (Brazzaville), which are militant about breaking Rhodesia’s white Government, have not stopped their trade with her, the British Foreign Secretary, Mr Michael Stewart, said yesterday.

He told Parliament he regretted the lack of wisdom of nine African States in severing diplomatic relations with Britain because they considered she was not seriously trying to depose the breakaway regime.

“I must add that I hope that some of those nations who have been most critical .. . would have at least given their support in comparable economic measures,” he said. “It is noticeable that some of the nine countries . . . have not so far taken any measures to obstruct their trade with Rhodesia.” “I mention, in particular, Ghana and Congo-Brazzaville, both of which import significant quantities of Rhodesian tobacco and have not yet—l repeat not yet—taken any measures to bar these imports. “I hope and expect action of that kind will conic speedily." To Join Ban

The British Prime Minister, Mr Harold Wilson, told Parliament that France and Italy—two important oil carriers for Rhodesia—would join the oil embargo on her announced by Britain last week.

The United States Government was fully satisfied with assurances it had received from United States companies, which have oil interests in Rhodesia, that they recognise Britain's authority In imposing the sanctions, he said. Mr Wilson said the new oil sanctions, aimed at ending

white-ruled Rhodesia’s break from Britain, were not a preliminary step to war against Rhodesia. “We do not regard this as a step towards a military solution,” he said. Not Blockade Mr Wilson told questioners Britain did not contemplate, at this stage, a blockade of the Portuguese Mozambique port of Beira to ensure the oil embargo was effective. Only if there was a serious frustration of the British action—“lf there was any seepage or leakage by one or two ’spivs’ (black marketeers)”—would this be considered. “Even then,” Mr Wilson said, “there are more ways than one of dealing with it."

Mr Wilson would only say Britain was in touch with Portugal and South Africa over the oil embargo. It has been speculated that they might continue to supply Rhodesia with oil. Several other important oil-supplying countries, including the Netherlands, had not yet said whether they would support the embargo. But Mr Wilson said: “I have every reason to think we will have full co-operation.”

A combined boycott by powerful middle eastern oil producing countries and governments which controlled oil distribution companies should prove effective, he said. The United States had assured Britain of support for an emergency oil airlift to Zambia, which has had its oil cut off from neighbouring Rhodesia. Canadian Aircraft The Canadian Prime Minister, Mr Lester Pearson, today announced Canada had banned the shipment of Canadian oil to Rhodesia. He also announced that four Canadian Air Force transport planes would take part in the airlift of oil and other supplies to Zambia. The Conservative Opposition leader, Mr Edward Heath, demanded an assurance that no blockade was envisaged. Mr Wilson answered: "We do not contemplate any need for this, certainly at this stage." In Salisbury, the Rhodesian Government made it clear today it would not resume oil supplies to neighbouring Zambia unless Britain dropped its oil embargo. The Rhodesian Information Minister, Mr Jack Howman, said Britain would be responsible for the “economic and social chaos” in Zambia if it maintained its oil embargo. The Minister’s statement scoffed at alternative arrangements —an airlift and overland convoys—Britain had made to keep Zambia supplied with oil and said these could not meet Zambia's fuel requirements. Fuel Arriving

As Mr Howman’s statement was released, fuel was arriving by road and air in Zambia.

A Royal Air Force Britannia touched down at Ndola with a cargo of 2400 gallons and the first overland supplies reached the copperbelt by lorry after a rough passage over largely un-made roads from Tanzania’s port and capital. Dar-es-Salaam. A fleet of lorries is expected

to ferry in thousands more gallons to ease Zambia’s crucial situation. Britain has agreed to spend some £3,500,000 to improve land oil routes across Tanzania. Pinch Felt But in spite of emergency measures Zambia today felt the pinch as oil companies cut supplies to all users by 25 per cent, at the Government's bidding. Long queues of motorists lined up at petrol stations in Lusaka to register for petrol rations. At the same time Zambia's copper mining companies studied the impact of Mr lan Smith's second blow at the Zambian economy—increased oil royalties and export tax on coke. A spokesman for one of the main companies said Mr Smith's increases would directly affect copper prices. But Zambia would continue to import coal from Rhodesia, he said.