RHODESIAN CABINET TO MAKE DECISION

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31235, 6 December 1966, Page 19

RHODESIAN CABINET TO MAKE DECISION

'X.ZP. A.-Reuter—Copyright)

SALISBURY, December 5. Rhodesian Cabinet Ministers met in Salisbury today for a fateful discussion which could finally break the 12-month independence crisis.

They had just four hours—until noon local time—in which to decide whether to accept or reject the arrangement worked out between Mr Wilson and the Rhodesian Prime Minister, Mr lan Smith, during two days of talks at sea off Gibraltar.

If the Rhodesian Cabinet accepts the arrangement as the British Cabinet did last night it would almost certainly clear the ground for a settlement of the crisis which started with Rhodesia’s declaration of independence on November 11 last year.

Mr Wilson will speak to the House of Commons about 7 a.m.. December 6, New Zealand time. The critical hours before the Rhodesian Cabinet began its emergency session ticked by in an atmosphere of heightening tension. White Rhodesians regard today as the day when a decision must be taken either to settle the row with Britain or make the final break. Fourteen Hours The British Cabinet reached agreement on accepting the arrangement some 15 hours ahead of the deadline. But for Rhodesians there were only 14 hours left when Mr Smith arrived back to Salisbury last night. The Cabinet was expected to stretch the deadline to the limit. Six Principles The six principles on which the present and previous British Governments have insisted a settlement should be based are:— 1. The principle and intention of unimpeded progress to majority rule, previously stated in the 1961 constitution. 2. Guarantees against retrogressive amendment of the constitution.

3. Immediate improvement in the political status of the African population. 4. Progress towards ending racial discrimination. 5. Acceptance of the settlement by “the people of Rhodesia as a whole.” 6. No oppression of majority by minority, or vice versa. Five Points The communique from this year’s Commonwealth Prime Minister’s conference, issued on September 14, outlined a “five-point” plan for the restoration of legal government in Rhodesia. An interim government was to be set up in Rhodesia “on a broad representative basis”; political detainees were to be

released: and normal political activities were to be permitted. The British Government would negotiate an independence constitution with the in-

terim Rhodesian government, and the constitution would provide for majoriy rule on the basis of the “six principles.” This constitution would then have to be accepted by the people of Rhodesia “as a

whole,” who would also have to consent to any proposal for independence before majority rule.

Asked by reporters before the Salisbury Cabinet meeting whether he regarded the working document as an ultimatum from Mr Wilson, Mr Smith said: “That’s the sort of word I think might be applied.” Mr Smith said he thought Mr Wilson had agreed to the whole working document before he left the cruiser Tiger, aboard which the two Prime Ministers had their discussions.

It was not surprising that the British Cabinet had been able to agree to it within a very short time. “It’s a completely different thing where we are concerned,” Mr Smith said. “There are some pretty big issues involved and my Ministers only heard about some of them for the first time last night. “Now we have got to sit down and make a decision.”