Rhodesia and apartheid

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33091, 5 December 1972, Page 20

Rhodesia and apartheid

The spate of apartheid-type legislation in Rhodesia suggests that the Smith Government has abandoned all hope of reaching an accommodation with the African leaders. When the renewal of sanctions was being debated in the House of Commons a few weeks ago, it was urged by those favouring their continuance that, although loosely enforced, they were nevertheless having the effect intended; in particular, they were hampering Rhodesia’s heavy industry by denying it the necessary replacements of plant The Foreign Secretary, Sir Alec Douglas-Home, had said in June that sanctions would continue until it was clear that they had failed in their purpose. They have not failed; and they are to be maintained, at any rate for another year. The general attitude in Britain seems to be that an effort must still be made to seek a settlement in Rhodesia which would satisfy African aspirations for a share in government. Britain, it is still argued, has a duty to protect, to the extent that it is able, the huge African majority from repressive rule by the white minority. The current legislation introduces identity passes for Africans after the South African model and sets up separate African provincial assemblies. The pass law will deny access to urban areas for Africans seeking employment. Those refusing to leave an urban area when ordered to do so will be liable to imprisonment This legislation is clearly, for all the world to see, discrimination against Africans. The British House of Commons is also concerned over the continuance of imprisonment without trial; in a recent debate it was stated that some political detainees had been held for up to seven years, and that there were nearly 70 against whom no charges had been preferred. As Rhodesia moves further and faster along the road to apartheid, many white Rhodesians must be concerned about internal security. Mr Smith has been trying to strengthen security links with South Africa. He has also been to Lisbon for talks on the worsening situation in Mozambique, where African guerrillas are now concentrating on cutting the road and rail links between Rhodesia and the port of Beira. In Salisbury, there has been a good deal of criticism of the failure of the Portuguese to prevent guerrilla raiders from crossing into Mozambique from Zambia. The Smith Government fears that the Portuguese might even abandon the northern region of Mozambique to the guerrillas, which would expose the whole of Rhodesia’s eastern frontier area to African raiding. The fear that the Portuguese might be unable or unwilling to crush the guerrilla movement might well have prompted Mr Smith to discuss in Lisbon the possibility of Rhodesian military intervention along the border area. Such a further provocation to African nationalism could hardly fail to have serious consequences. Yet Mr Smith’s Defence Minister, Mr Howman, has already pledged Rhodesian assistance in the defence of Mozambique should the Portuguese ask for it.