Messages in code

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32775, 27 November 1971, Page 17

Messages in code

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter— Copyright)

LONDON, Nov. 26.

A series of secret coded messages between a newspaper proprietor, Sir Max Aitken, and a journalist in Salisbury paved the way for Britain’s historic independence agreement with Rhodesia.

It was in April, 1968, that Sir Max Aitken, one of the main ■ figures behind the agreement, was first asked to visit Salisbury for talks with Mr lan Smith. Mr Harold Wilson, who was then the British Prime Minister, knew that Sir Max Aitken was a friend of Mr Smith—they had served in the R.A.F. together during the Second World War. The Labour Prime Minister had to swallow a fair amount of pride to make the request. For Sir Max Aitken is proprietor of the “Daily Express,” probably the most consistent critic of the 19641970 Labour Government. Lord Goodman, another key figure in the last three years .of British-Rhodesian

diplomacy, was to travel with Sir Max Aitken on his mission to Salisbury. When the two men arrived in Rhodesia, Sir Max Aitken introduced Lord Goodman to his old friend, Mr Smith, who until then had never heard of the eminent peer.

Three days of top secret talks ensued, leaving both Britons convinced there was still a chance of a British accord with Rhodesia. Before leaving Salisbury for London, Sir Max Aitken met the “Daily Express” Salisbury correspondent, John Monks. Together they worked out a secret code to enable channels of communication to be kept open. In all cable messages Sir Max Aitken was to be “hotdog,” Mr lan Smith “Old Mate” and Lord Goodman “Friend.” Soon afterwards, the first informal exchanges led to the Wilson-Smith negotiations aboard H.M.S. Fearless, which ended in failure.

But the secret messages continued for the next three years. Often, Sir Max Aitken would call Mr John Monks back to London for the sole purpose of giving the journalist a verbal message for delivery to Mr Smith. The reason for all the security and the personal ap-

proach from Sir Max Aitken was that Mr Wilson did not want the world to know he was still in touch with the Rhodesian Prime Minister. “If anyone asks anv questions I shall know nothing about it,” Mr Wilson is reported to have told Sir Max Aitken.

At the end of 1969. Sir Max Aitken again visited Salisbury. This time, Mr Smith said that Rhodesia was progressing all right without Britain and he was not concerned about a settlement.

But in April this year the Conservative Government asked Sir Max Aitken and Lord Goodman to reopen their unofficial channels with Rhodesia.

Lord Goodman visited Rhodesia several times in the next two months and then in June, Sir Max Aitken again went to see his old friend in Salisbury. This time, Sir Max Aitken revealed in a “Daily Express” feature today, he found Mr Smith in a very different mood, chiefly because of Rhodesia’s currency problems.

On October 15 Mr Monks told his proprietor in another coded message, “A Rhodesian settlement now appears beyond doubt.”