Ministers Take Last Offer To Smith

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31169, 20 September 1966, Page 15

Ministers Take Last Offer To Smith

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright >

LONDON, September 19. Two British Ministers left London today for Rhodesia, carrying with them Mr Wilson’s last-chance offer for a negotiated settlement.

But Britain insists there will be no Government - to - Government encounter in Salisbury, and announced last night that the trip in no way implies recognition of the regime led by Mr Smith.

The two Ministers, the Commonwealth Secretary, Mr Bowden, and the AttorneyGeneral, Sir Elwyn Jones, flew to Africa in a special Air Force Comet just before midnight, nearly four hours behind schedule. Mr Wilson had postponed the flight at the last minute while the Government sought clarification of Mr Smith’s attitude.

A surprise message from Salisbury had said that the Rhodesian leader agreed to discussions —but only on condition that these were at Government level. It came less than 90 minutes before the Ministers were to depart. Mr Wilson then announced that the mission in no way constituted any change in the attitude of Britain to the regime in Rhodesia. All discussions would be under the aegis of the British-recognised Governor, Sir Humphrey Gibbs.

Before boarding the plane last night, Mr Bowden made it clear that he would meet the Rhodesian leader—“if Mr Smith, who is a leader of opinion, wishes to come along and talk about the position.”

The Commonwealth Secretary and Sir Elwyn Jones are the first British Ministers to visit Rhodesia since the colony declared its independence last November. British officials say the Government wants Mr Smith and "all sections of opinion” to be fully informed of the consequences of continuing to resist a return to legal government.

These were set out after the recent Commonwealth conference in London. Unless Mr Smith ends his rebellion by transferring powers to the Governor, Britain will withhold legal independence until there is majority rule. Before the year’s end, Britain would also initiate United

Nations action on compulsory selective sanctions against Rhodesia—provided this move has full Commonwealth support. Many Commonwealth diplomats have anticipated a blunt rejection by Mr Smith of this virtual ultimatum. Yesterday, Mr Smith said the British Government had approached him with a proposal that “Mr Bowden should

' come to Salisbury urgently to t have discussions with me on ! the possibilities of a settle- - ment of the Rhodesian issue. “I wish to emphasise that ■ I have agreed to this visit t on the understanding that it > is a continuation of talks at Government level: that is, the I British Government to the I Rhodesian Government . . . - there can be no deviation 1 from this principle.”