Smith Has Not Lost Negotiation Hopes

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31239, 10 December 1966, Page 15

Smith Has Not Lost Negotiation Hopes

(N.Z.P. A.-Reuter—Copyright)

SALISBURY, December 9.

The Rhodesian Prime Minister, Mr lan Smith, said today he did not regard Britain’s call for mandatory United Nations sanctions as the end of hopes for a negotiated settlement to the independence crisis.

Reporters asked the Rhodesian leader as he reached his office this morning if proposals outlined to the United Nations Security Council by the British Foreign Secretary, Mr George Brown, last night meant the end of the road for negotiations. Mr Smith replied: “No, I don’t believe you ever get to the end of the road.” “No Serious Thought” Asked whether he would carry out his threat and declare Rhodesia a republic now that Britain had taken the issue to the United Nations, the Prime Minister said: “We have not given this any serious thought. “I think what we’ve got to do is to let the dust settle.” Asked to comment on the list of exports Britain has asked to be banned, Mr Smith declined comment, saying he had not yet seen the list. Mr Brown asked the Security Council to order a worldwide ban on imports of a dozen commodities vital to Rhodesia’s economy, including tobacco, copper, sugar, iron ore and asbestos.

He did not call for the ban on oil supplies demanded by several African States, but Britain has made clear she will not oppose moves for this if they are tabled in acceptable terms. Accepted Calmly Reports of the Security Council debate were accepted calmly in Government quarters and officials said they knew of no plans for a special Cabinet meeting today. Some Cabinet ministers are known to be out of town. Reports of Britain’s pledge to withdraw all proposals for a constitutional settlement in return for a Security Council order for mandatory sanctions were splashed across the front page of Salisbury’s morning newspaper, the “Rhodesia Herald.” There was no sign of any censored blank spaces and the newspaper carried full reports

of Mr Brown’s United Nations address, and the House of Commons debate on the issue. The “Rhodesia Herald” called today for a “last desperate effort" to settle the crisis. “The difference between agreement and failure is appalling, and the pity of it is that not lack of a solution but merely disagreement on how to begin putting the agreed solution into practice would cause the tragedy," it said in an editorial. “With respect, the situation is ridiculous.” The “Rhodesia Herald” said a first step should be an assurance by the Rhodesian Government that the constitutional proposals have been adopted and will be put into practice as soon as possible, no matter what action Britain may take at the United Nations or elsewhere.