Crucial point for Rhodesia

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34106, 19 March 1976, Page 13

Crucial point for Rhodesia

'A' Z P.A.Reuter—Copyright • . SALISBURY, Mareli 18. Rhodesia’s black and white leaders appear to i [have reached a crucial, [stage in their negotia-1 [tions for a new con-) ■ stitution, observers re-, [port. Delegations led by the Prime Minister (Mr Smith) land the nationalist leader. [Mr Joshua Nkomo, yester-1

I day held their longest session since the talks began three months ago. Neither side would comment on the progress of the negotiations, but a Government spokesman said they would resume tomorrow. Observers noted the reappearance of two white legal advisers to the African National Council, after an absence of several weeks, which could mean that legal aspects of a new Constitution had come under intensive study. Mr Smith said this week! that he believed that there; I was an even chance of (reaching a settlement —i [provided Mr Nkomo modi-; ified his demands for black majority rule. j Mr Nkomo has said that :|to abandon the objective of ([majority rule would be to) [render the talks meaningless.! Other aid i In New York, the United Nations Security Council has voted unanimously to extend economic aid to Mozambique to help it withstand the, financial consequences of its, decision to apply sanctions: against Rhodesia. The resolution, sponsored by 11 nations, including Britain, Italy, Sweden and Japan, condemned “all provocative and aggressive acts, including military incursions” by Rhodesia against Mozambique.

A number of countries have already indicated their willingness to help Mozambique bilaterally or multilaterally. The secretary-general of the Commonwealth (Mr Shridath RamphaO has arrived in Mozambique for talks on economic assistnaee to Mozambique. His visit was at the l request of the Com- ! monwealth Sanctions Committee.