Rhodesia talks venue sought

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33869, 14 June 1975, Page 15

Rhodesia talks venue sought

• (,\ Z.P.A -Reuter—Copyright» SALISBURY, June 13. The white minority Rhodesian (Joy eminent and the black nationalists have, after months of wrangling, finally agreed to hold a Constitutional conference on the country’s future, hut are deadlocked on a venue for the talks.

Agreement to hold the talks was reached yesterday at a 90-minute meeting be-

.tween the Prime Ministei 1 (Mr lan Smith) and a delegation led by Bishop Abel I Muzorewa, president of the i African National Council, I the nationalist negotiating ! body seeking power for the 'African majority. It was their fourth meeting this year to try to arrange a conference after a British commission led by Lord Pearce found in May. 1972, that proposals agreed by Britain and Rhodesia to resolve the deadlock were unacceptable to the African majority. The Smith Government insists that the conference is held in Rhodesia and says this was made clear “at the commencement of the present detente exercise.” The nationalists say that it should be held outside Rhodesia as they fear exiled nationalists face arrest if they return to the country. A final decision may have to await the visit of Mr David Ennals, Minister of State at the British Foreign Office. The Government insists that the conference should be inside Rhodesia, the nationalists say it should be I held anywhere except Rho-I desia, but an interesting compromise venue has been suggested — South Africa — and the idea came from the nationalists themselves. Bishop Muzorewa said that, he told Mr Smith that his organisation would be willing to hold the conference at the South African border town of Messina, or even in Pretoria, the capital. South Africa, viewing the prospect of one of the most potentially dangerous situations in Africa being settled on its soil, could be expected to be keen on the suggestion.