Smith goes home from talks

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33932, 27 August 1975, Page 15

Smith goes home from talks

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

VICTORIA FALLS (Rhodesia), August 26.

The Rhodesian Prime Minister (Mr Smith) flew back to Salisbury today, leaving the Rhodesian constitutional talks balanced precariously on the edge of failure.

He told reporters before leaving that the talks with the African nationalists had not yet broken down.

But the ball was in their court and it was up to them to agree among themselves whether they would accept the terms for constitutional talks inside Rhodesia. Mr Smith said that he was not setting any time at this stage for the African National Council (A.N.C.) to make up its mind. He would be prepared, if necessary, to return from Salisbury and meet the A.N.C. again aboard the “peace train” parked on Victoria Falls bridge. The words, “within Rhodesia,’ are part of a key clause in an agreement signed in Pretoria on August 9 by the South African and Rhodesian Prime Ministers, Mr Vorster and Mr Smith, and Mr Mark Chona, political adviser to President Kaunda of Zambia. The clause calls on the present conference “to adjourn to enable the parties

to discuss proposals for a settlement in committee or committees within Rhodesia.” But the Pretoria document was not signed by Rhodesia’s African National Council (A.N.C.), which is negotiating at Victoria Falls with the aim of transferring power from the white minority Government to the black majority. The A.N.C. has rejected the idea of committees meeting inside Rhodesia, and it was this snag that yesterday stalled progress despite talks spanning 14| hours and heavy pressure on the A.N.C. from both Mr Vorster and President Kaunda to ratify the Pretoria agreement.

Kaunda ‘dispirited’ By late last night it seemed as if the conference were near breakdown and Dr Kaunda- looked dispirited as he returned from the negotiating point, in railway carriages above the falls, to Livingstone on the Zambian side of the border. When the A.N.C. delegates arrived back at their hotel early today a spokesman. Mr Joshua Nkomo, said a statement would be issued soon. But reporters were later told it would be delayed until this morning. There were no clues as to what it might contain but the atmosphere was gloomy and in marked contrast to the mild euphoria caused yesterday by the first known meeting between Dr Kaunda and Mr Vorster — who flew back to Pretoria looking glum shortly before the conference broke up for the day. Smith’s view Mr Smith blamed the A.N.C. for the deadlock and said: “Most of the problems are on the other side.” “We’ve been twiddling our thumbs for about six hours today,” he said, and added that he and his team of three Ministers played bridge most of last night while the nationalists argued in a separate railway coach. He also told reporters: “I suppose you want to know whv a meeting I said would last 30 minutes has gone on as long as it has. Mv comment was made because I believed I was talking to normal people. I suppose these chans are a little un-normal at the moment.” Dr Kaunda commented: “All I can sav is that we’re still trying.” He was understood to have used his in-

fluence with the A.N.C. in caucus sessions during the day, and one unconfirmed report Said that he had given it an ultimatum to start constitutional talks within seven days or face being disowned by Zambia. Informed sources said last night the A.N.C. had rejected a plan by Mr Smith for the committee stage of the negotiations to start in Salisbury, the Rhodesian capital, within seven days. Earlier yesterday, the A.N.C. leader, Bishop Abel Muzorewa, told the conference it was the last chance to avoid further bloodshed in Rhodesia, where nationalists have been waging. a guerrilla war.

“We are getting increasingly impatient,” he said.