THE PRESS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26. 1977. Mr Smith’s reforms

Press, 26 February 1977, Page 12

THE PRESS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26. 1977. Mr Smith’s reforms

The moves over racial discrimination that Mr lan Smith, the Prime Minister of Rhodesia, is making are genuine and significant reforms. The greatest change for Rhodesia's blacks is the making of white farmland available for black occupation and ownership. Unless administrative and economic obstacles are put in the way of Rhodesia's blacks, an opportunity for advancement is being offered. The reforms stop considerably short of making Rhodesia a State in which decisions are made by. and for the equal benefit of. all the communities. Segregation will remain in in State hospitals and schools. On balance the change may prove not only that the reforms do not go far enough but that thev are too late.

They are an indication, however, that Mr Smith is interested in keeping the talks about power-sharing going. Tt is a marked shift in policy for him to be prepared to negotiate with the leaders of the Patriotic Front. Mr Joshua Nkomo and Mr Robert Mugabe, who control the guerrillas. Intransigence may still be found, but Mr Smith's position is more flexible

It may, in fact, be more flexible than it appears at first sight. It depends on Mr Smith's strategy, which has yet to be revealed. He may be prepared to give ground on other points of racial discrimination but is holding these concessions in reserve while he plays for the stake he really wants: a moderate, black majority government led by

Bishop Muzorewa, leader of the African National Council.

Bishop Muzorewa is believed to have strong support by blacks inside Rhodesia: he does not have the support, of the leaders of the “ front-line ” States. Tanzania, Botswana, Zambia, Mozambique, and Angola, which back Mr Nkomo and Mr Mugabe. Because not even Bishop Muzorewa is going to settle for anything less than immediate majority rule. Mr Smith may be trying to settle for what he can get.

If this is Mr Smith’s plan, it is closer to that put forward by Dr Henry Kissinger, then American Secretary of State, than it is to the plan suggested by Mr Ivor Richard, the British negotiator. Mr Smith had always shown himself more enamoured of the Kissinger approach. Part of the reason was because Dr Kissinger had South Africa’s backing—a fact that persuaded Mr Smith to agree to majority rule within two years. Mr Richard wanted majority rule earlier and leaned closer to the Patriotic Front. The main reason, however, was almost certainly ideological: Mr Smith believes that it is his duty to defend the “ free world ” against Marxists, and he numbers Mr Nkomo and Mr Mugabe among them. Within the last few days he has appealed to the United States to take further moves over Rhodesia. “What could be more appropriate ”, he asked, “ than for the leader of the free world to take the initiative?”