Rhodesia

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32032, 5 July 1969, Page 12

Rhodesia

Sir,—Perhaps Mr T. M. Ryan had not read my second letter (June 28), else it seems he knows- more about Rhodesia than he does about making fair comment. After imputing ignorance to me, he says nothing that I factually disagree with. Given the fluidity of pre-European land use, and tribal mobility under various pressures, it still makes sense to say that the Matabele have a prior, and better traditional claim to Rhodesia than the whites and the Bantu to most of South Africa although the full weight, of their southward migration was only felt after the whites had arrived. Despite this, the basic African demand is for no more than an equal share in the productivity of the at present white-controlled areas. The Europeans have generally assisted native population increase when its labour-power could be profitably harnessed, and its decrease when the native society has proved too primitive or inflexible for such usefulness. This is the obvious explanation behind Mr Ryan’s figures.— Yours, etc, B. P. LILBURN. July 4, 1969.