Smith Alleges Left-wing Aid

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32019, 20 June 1969, Page 15

Smith Alleges Left-wing Aid

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) SALISBURY, June 19. The Rhodesian Prime Minister (Mr lan Smith) alleged yesterday that Britain was backing Left-wingers outside Rhodesia who were helping to finance opposition to the Government in tomorrow’s vote on a new, apartheidstyle Constitution.

As he battles with his chief political opponent, Mr Pat Bashford, of the multi-racial Rhodesia Centre Party, in the closing stages of the campaign, Mr Smith seems certain to receive a “yes” from voters on the two issues at stake in the referendum: acceptance of the new Constitution, and acceptance of a Republican Government for the breakaway British colony. The main point of Mr Smith’s speech yesterday, in which he reiterated the theme of “a threat to white civilisation,” was to accuse his opposition of obtaining financial aid from outside the

country to fight its campaign against the referendum. He did not name the opposition, but he was obviously re. ferring to the Centre Party, which has been crusading for a “no” vote at the referendum. “They have used page after page oft advertisements, running into tens of thousands of pounds,” Mr Smith said. “Most of this money, we know, is coming from outside our borders from Leftwing sources—in fact, I have evidence to show, from sources supported by the British Labour Government.” Later, Mr Bashford, who is the Centre Party’s president, branded the proposed Constitution as morally indefensible, and insisted that there was still a chance of a settlement of the 3}-year-old independence dispute with Britain. “Mr Smith should think again before plunging the country into the unknown dangers that the new Constitution, under a republic, could bring,” Mr Bashford said in a radio and television address. Forecasts in Salisbury are that Mr Smith will receive a vote of between 60 per cent and 70 per cent for the Constitution, and that on the republic issue, his victory is likely to be far more convincing. In New York, African and Asisin members of the United Nations Security Council yesterday drafted a resolution that would have the world body "urge Britain to take all necessary measures, including the use of force,” to end the white rebellion in Rhodesia. It also called for a total severance of relations with Rhodesia, including “the cessation of rail, maritime and air transport, postal, telephonic, wireless, and other means of communication.”