RHODESIA ISSUE Wilson Considering Mandatory Sanctions

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31162, 12 September 1966, Page 13

RHODESIA ISSUE Wilson Considering Mandatory Sanctions

(A'.Z.PA. Reuter—Copyright)

LONDON, September 10. Commonwealth officials today moved on to other issues while the British Cabinet grappled for two and a half hours with the Rhodesian problem.

Representatives of 22 Commonwealth nations met under the chairmanship of the Canadian Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Secretariat (Mr Arnold Smith) to discuss East-West relations, Vietnam, disarmament and world finance and trade issues.

Meanwhile, the British Cabinet discussed the Rhodesian Premier (Mr -Smith) and the demands from a majority of the Commonwealth partners that Britain take decisive measures against his regime. African, Asian and some other delegates at the Commonwealth conference claim that British-led voluntary economic sanctions, aimed at toppling Mr Smith's regime, have failed. Some nations are demanding tougher measures, including the use of force and compulsory sanctions through the United Nations. Mr Wilson, however, has made it clear that Britain will not use force to oust the Smith regime. Pressure has built up at the co’ 'erence for selective compulsory economic sanctions against Rhodesia. Mr Wilson and his Cabinet must decide how far Britain can meet this—and other demands —of the overwhelming majority of delegates at the conference. Britain still argues that the voluntary sanctions are biting deep and hard into the Rhodesian economy, and should be given more time to work. It does not favour mandatory sanctions under the United Nations Charter. Mr Wilson is said to be

willing to listen to the views of his Commonwealth colleagues on the selective compulsory economic sanctions issue. | Uganda's President (Dr. jObote) reinforced the move towards selective sanctions when he said yesterday that at this stage he did not feel Britain, or anyone else, should call for more sweeping action. Mr Wilson, in the Uganda President’s own words, faced a difficult week-end before making his major policy speech to the conference on Monday. African delegates will press for an adjournment of the meeting immediately afterwards to decide whether his statement goes far enough. After the Cabinet meeting Mr Wilson will return to Chequers, his country house in Buckinghamshire, to continue private talks with groups of Commonwealth leaders.

His guests at Chequers include President Makarios, of Cyprus; the Prime Ministers of Gambia, Australia, and Guyana; the Vice-President of Kenya (Mr J. Murumbi; the new Foreign Minister of Pakistan (Mr Pirzada): and the British Foreign Secretary (Mr Brown).