RHODESIA THE P.M.s’ ‘EXPLOSIVE ISSUE’

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31134, 10 August 1966, Page 15

RHODESIA THE P.M.s’ ‘EXPLOSIVE ISSUE’

(N.Z. Press Association —Copyright) LONDON, August 9. Rhodesia has become the explosive issue for next month’s Commonwealth Prime Ministers’ conference after Mr Wilson’s gloomy statement to the House of Commons on the resumption of talks with officials of the rebel regime.

Mr Wilson told Parliament that although British officials were returning to Salisbury at the end of the week there was no indication a settlement was likely within the next two months.

His statement is certain to cause bitter reaction from African Commonwealth members >vho more than once since the reerime made its unilateral declaration of independence last November have threatened f o take action by themselves. President Kenne‘h Kaunda. of Zambia, has officially threatened to leave the Commonwealth if Britain does not give a good account of herself at the conference.

President Jomo Kenyatta, of Kenya. Dr. Julius. Nyerere. of Tanzania, and Dr. Milton Obote, of Uganda, have already stated , they will be unable to attend—but probably will send deputies in their places. In his statement, Mr Wilson held out little hope of joint Commonwealth action on Rhodesia, although he said the matter obviously would be discussed at the conference. “I do not believe that many Rhodesians, certainly not the late Government of Rhodesia, would be prepared to accept either United Nations or Commonwealth intervention,” he told Parliament. “This is something on which I could have discussions with my colleagues in | the Commonwealth Prime Minister’s conference,” he said. ‘Without Votes’ Asked if he would abide by a majority decision taken at the conference on Rhodesia, Mr Wilson said the conferi ence “never proceeds by votes,” adding once again that it was Britain’s responsibility alone. This was the impasse reached at the Commonwealth meeting in London last year, when Australia’s then Prime Minister, Sir Robert Menzies, was the only Commonwealth leader to side with Britain on the fact that the fate of Rhodesia was an I issue for the United Kingdom alone. i British political commenta- | tors have already stated that the Commonwealth could well break up over the Rhodesia issue this year—dividing into two camps with the African nations on one side and the older Commonwealth members on the other. ‘Great Non-Event’ Malcolm Rutherford in the conservative magazine the “Spectator” said: “The Commonwealth appears to be breaking up over the Rhodesia issue surprisingly quietly.” For a body that had only a few weeks to live “there is remarkable lack of concern,” he added. Terence Lancaster writing in the “People” called the conference the “great nonevent of 1966.” He said that Mr Wilson had sent a telegram to Mr Holt stating: “Come if you think! it's worth the trouble.” No Comment There was no comment from the Prime Minister’s office today about this telegram, but British officials have said that the “breaking up” of the Commonwealth was a theme that had been endlessly discussed

before every such meeting. They doubted if it would break up over Rhodesia.

The Conservative Party’s spokesman on Commonwealth affairs, Mr Reginald Maddling. said that he thought “breaking up” was putting the crisis a little too high. He said although the present situation within the association was one “of great seriousness,” the Commonwealth has weathered many storms in the past and I think it will weather many storms in the future.

“I don't think the. September meeting will be a make-or-break occasion,” he said. Another member of Parliament, Lord Lambton, today speculated that because of the troubles within the Commonwealth and because of Britain’s present economic difficulties Mr Wilson could pro-

pose an entirely new assocla tion.

Lord Lambton said Mr Wilson could well suggest that Britain, Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand, form a closer association economically with special terms of association for other Commonwealth countries. Writing in the “Evening Standard” Lord Lambton said Mr Wilson's announcement of this could well run along these lines: With N.Z.

“I believe that if this country, along with Canada, Australia and New Zealand, forged special links with the United States we would create an association of nations so powerful that prosperity and peace would come within the grasp of all mankind.” The former Premier of Rhodesia, Sir Roy Welensky, said today that Rhodesia would not be starved into submission. Agreement Sought Britain’s sanctions policy had created a common cause among white Rhodesians, supported by a large number of black Rhodesians, Sir Roy Welensky told a press conference during a private visit to England. “I say this as a man who was opposed to the unilateral declaration of independence,” he added.

Referring to Mr Wilson’s announcement that exploratory talks would resume, Sir Roy Welensky said:

“Only a blockhead would have thought they would not go on.

“It is only commonsense for the two sides to reach agreement.”