Smith Accuses Zambia

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32210, 31 January 1970, Page 11

Smith Accuses Zambia

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) SALISBURY, Jan. 30. The Rhodesian Prime Minister (Mr lan Smith) has accused the Zambian authorities outright of actively assisting African guerrilla incursions into Rhodesia. Making a statement in Parliament, Mr Smith said: “I wish to make it clear that the Rhodesian Government cannot ignore the continuance of assistance to terrorist incursions into Rhodesia. I “The evidence of recently-

captured terrorists proves conclusively that the Zambian authorities are not only well aware of their activities and their intentions, but have actively assisted their incursions into Rhodesia.” The Prime Minister went on to say that a Rhodesian patrol boat was recently attacked by machine-gun and small arms fire from the Zambian bank of the Zambezi River, and that this incident was followed immediately by terrorist incursions from Zambia. ‘The Zambian Government has full knowledge of these activities, and cannot escape

responsibility for incidents directly resulting from its cooperation with the terrorists,” Mr Smith said. Mr Robin James, of the Right-wing Republican Alliance, asked whether, in view of his statement, Mr Smith would state that if these incursions continued, steps would be taken to prevent them by attacking their positions in Zambia. The Prime Minister replied: “I believe that if I was to attempt to answer this question I would be doing a grave disservice to Rhodesia, and I do not intend to give such an answer,”