'Unworried By Talks’

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31161, 10 September 1966, Page 15

'Unworried By Talks’

(N.Z. Press Assn—Copyright)

LONDON, Sept. 9.

Nothing that the Commonwealth Prime Ministers said at their London conference could make any difference to Rhodesia, the rebel Premier, Mr lan Smith, said on a television programme last night.

Mr Smith was interviewed by an Independent Television reporter in the Rhodesian capital, Salisbury, as the Prime Ministers or delegation heads from 22 Commonwealth countries were arguing in London how best to end his ilegal indepedence based on white supremacy.

“They can talk to their heart’s content,” said Mr Smith. “We realise that is all they can do at the moment.

“We are not worried,” he told the interviewer. “We have listened to this sort of talk for a long time.” The interview was the first full-scale talk for British television since Mr Smith declared independence last November.

The interviewer asked the Rhodesian Prime Minister: "Does this mean that you don’t mind very much what is decided at the Commonwealth conference?” Mr Smith replied: “I imagine putting the thing bluntly that’s a fair assessment of the position.” Mr Smith said he cared about responsible world opinion, but added: “I’m satisfied that, as far as the responsible opinion of the Commonwealth conference is concerned, that we have nothing to fear.” But, he added, as far as the irresponsible elements were concerned, “when one sees the conditions of their countries and how poorly they shape against conditions in this country, why should we worry about them.” Mr Smith was asked: “But all countries in the Commonwealth and the U.S.A, whether they agree about the means

of ending your independent Government agree that this should be done. Do you care about this?”

Mr Smith said: “Well, I think that if they were to hear the other side of the case they may change their minds and until they have done that I don’t think we should worry very much.” The Prime Minister said that this year's crop of tobacco, fundamental to Rhodesia’s economy, had sold better than Britain thought, and he added. “We are still selling.” But he refused to give figures. “Can Solve Problem”

Asked whether he was prepared to make any concessions for a settlement, Mr Smith replied: “Are there concessions? I think I have said all along that I believe there is a meeting ground between the two sides. I still believe we can solve this problem.” Mr Smith said he looked forward to a settlement between Rhodesia and Britain.

“The whole position has been aggravated out of all recognition and beyond all need—l believe by the British, not by ourselves. “But a continuation of the present position is not to the advantage of Rhodesia, but it

isn’t to the advantage of Britain, I should say, or to many other countries.

“I have often heard it said, I am not necessarily giving you my opinion, that Britain is suffering more from sanctions than we are. This doesn’t give me any great happiness.” 'The interviewer said that Mr Smith had fought in the Second World War against detention without trial, arrests in the night and other conditions which the Rhodesian Government had now introduced.

Mr Smith said: “During the war we had to practise some of those things too.” One or two people had thrown hand grenades into houses in Rhodesia, he said. Steps had to be taken to stop that. “We have to be realistic.” he said. “I would love to get away from this. But no-one ever won a war by being soft,” Mr Smith said. Asked who the war was against, he said that economically the war was against Britain.

“I believe we are going to draw a line against communism in the African continent.

“I had hoped it would be further north.”