RHODESIAN REQUEST

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31062, 18 May 1966, Page 17

RHODESIAN REQUEST

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) NEW YORK, May 17. A Rhodesian request to take part in the Security Council debate on Rhodesia due to begin today may delay proceedings.

United Nations sources said last night that the secretariat was studying the unexpected request by the lan Smith’s government, made under article 32 of the United Nations Charter, which allows any State to be invited to a council debate if it is a party to a dispute.

But Rhodesia has not been recognised as a State by any Government since it unilaterally declared independence last November and Mr Smith has been declared a rebel by the Security Council. All indications are that the request will not be granted.

African members are scheduled to ask the council today to adopt a resolution calling for sweeping measures against Rhodesia, including a call to all nations to cut off economic relations. Britain will be asked to blockade Rhodesia to make the steps effective and to use force to bring down the white minority regime in Salisbury. However, these far-reaching proposals, published last week, are almost certain to

fail to gain the necessary nine votes for adoption, as happened with similar African moves last month.

Informed sources said that the session would centre on British efforts to persuade the African delegations to tone down their demands and avoid a division in the council when exploratory talks are being held in London between British and Rhodesian officials.

The British delegate, Lord Caradon, was said to be attempting privately to convince African diplomats that approval of a resolution for mandatory sanctions without providing the machinery .to enforce them would also be dangerous. Some African delegates

were said to be willing to refrain from urging decisive steps, but others were believed to be determined to press for full-scale sanctions, even at the cost of a showdown with Britain.