U.S. ‘embassy’ in Salisbury

Press, 29 August 1977, Page 8

U.S. ‘embassy’ in Salisbury

i NZPA-Reuter Salisbury

i The American adventure! I writer, Robin Moore, author I of the “The French Coninection” and “The Green I Berets” has hoisted the ! Stars and Stripes outside his suburban Salisbury home and proclaimed himself the American "ambassador” to Rhodesia. He holds regular Saturday afternoon parties for Americans serving in the I anti-guerrilla forces of the I Prime Minister (Mr lan Smith), entertaining the young soldiers with ham-! burgers and baseball news] around the swimming pool! and making mocking jokes! directed at President Carter and his black Ambassador to the United Nations (Mr Andrew Young). The United States, like every other country except South Africa, does not recognise the Smith Government and has no diplomatic mission in Salisbury. Moore has no official recognition from the Rhodesian Government, but he clearly enjoys some support in Rhodesia. Mr Moore invited reporters at the weekend for a ceremony in which' I he gave a $lOOO cheque to, an American medical mis-1 sionary. Dr Roland Stephens,! and presented plastic copies'

of his “embassy” insignia to! officers of five Rhodesian army units. The plastic; plaques represent an Ameri-j can eagle with a broken wing and carry the words “the crippled eagles.” Moore told journalists: "The crippled eagles are Americans harassed by their Government for fighting the communist enemy in Rhodesia.” Five Rhodesian combat units sent American officers to the “embassy” for the ceremony. They were Grey’s Scouts, the Special Air Service, the Selous Scouts, the Rhodesian Light Infantry, and the Rhodesian African Rifles. Moore feels that President Carter should establish diplomatic relations with Rhodeisa, which he believes is fighting a war against communism in southern Africa. At his large double-storeyed white house in the suburb of Avondale he displays the flags of the United States, Britain, West Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, Hungary, Australia, Israel. New Zealand, South Africa, Sweden, Greece, Ireland, and Austria. Moore said he has met at least one man from each country in the Rhodesian forces.