Rhodesia Office In U.S. To Close

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30998, 2 March 1966, Page 17

Rhodesia Office In U.S. To Close

(N.Z.P.A Reuter—Copyright)

NEW YORK, March 1.

The United States yesterday took steps to close an information office set up in Washington by the breakaway regime in Rhodesia.

The United States said that Mr Henry J. C. Hooper, who opened the office recently, could no longer remain in the country in an official capacity. A letter from Mr Thomas Mann. Under-Secretary for Economic Affairs, to Mr Hooper was sent to the Security Council for distribution to all members. The move followed protests by several African States against the opening of the office. The United States letter set no deadline for Mr Hooper to leave the country but said he could apply to stay as a private citizen if he wished. It recalled that Mr Hooper’s assignment as a member of the British Embassy had ended on November 11, 1965, when Rhodesia announced that it had unilaterally declared its independence from Britain. Reasonable Time “A diplomatic agent whose official capacity has terminated has, of course, a reasonable time within which to wind up his affairs and leave this country.” the letter, forwarded by Mr Arthur J. Goldberg, the United States delegate to the United Nations, said. “More than three months have now elapsed since the termination of your diplomatic assignment with the British Embassy. Since you are no longer a representative of Her Majesty’s Government and since the United States does not recognise any ; independent State of Rhoidesia, I am obliged to inform I you that you have no official i capacity tn this country. If “The Government of the BUnited States is therefore not prepared to accord to you Q) continuing residence on the Emsk of a purported official ■bpacity” K.The letter referred to Mr Hooper having opened "a so-

called ‘Rhodesian Information office’.”

The United States has joined Britain and other countries in imposing trade restrictions on Rhodesia in accordance with a resolution of the Security Council.