Compromise vote on Rhodesia

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32462, 24 November 1970, Page 20

Compromise vote on Rhodesia

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) NEW YORK, Nov. 22. Britain and Australia last week voted against a United Nations resolution affirming that any attempt to negotiate the future of Rhodesia with the Smith regime would be contrary to United Nations decisions. The resolution, which also condemns Britain’s failure to take “effective measures” to end Rhodesia’s secession, was adopted by the General Assembly’s trusteeship committee by 90 votes in favour,

10 against, and 11 abstentions. The countries which voted against the resolution were Belgium, France, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, South Africa and the United -States. The vote was taken as Britain, through its ambassador in South Africa, began new approaches to the Smith regime to establish whether there is a basis for new negotiations. The resolution, sponsored by a large group of AfroAsian countries would have the General Assembly “affirm that any attempt to negotiate the future of Zimbabwe (Rhodesia) with Jthe illegal racist-minority regime would

I be contrary to the provisions I of United Nations resolutions.” Britain’s defeat came after it vetoed last week in the Security Council, a resolution submitted by a group of Afro-Asian nations which tried to bar the granting of independence to Rhodesia before African majority-rule is established in the territory. After a week of negotiations, the council adopted unanimously a compromise document, condemning Rhodesia’s five-year-old indepen-] dence and calling on Britain,! as the administering Power, to end the secession. The resolution reaffirms “the inalienable right” of the people of Rhodesia to freedom and independence, and “the legitimacy of their struggle to attain that right by all the means at their disposal.” It also condemns the intervention of South African armed forces in Rhodesia and

the policies of South Africa and Portugal and other Governments “that continue to maintain political, economic, military and other relations with the illegal racist-minor-ity regime in Southern Rhodesia.” It calls on Britain, “as the administering Power, to ensure the immediate expulsion of all South African forces from southern Rhodesia.”