Gloom over talks

Press, 4 October 1977, Page 8

Gloom over talks

MZPA-Reuter Salisbury! Mr lan Smith’s surprise talks with President Kaunda of Zambia in Lusaka do not! appear to have made any significant breakthrough towards peace in Rhodesia. A Government spokesman in Salisbury said yesterday that the talks last week concerned British-American proposals “to bring black rule after 12 years under Mr Smith’s breakaway white-, minority Government.

' Government sources would 1 not expand on this yesterday, maintaining strict! silence on the meeting —| the second between the bit-, terly-onnosed neighbours in ; two years. out seasoned political ob-| servers found it significant! i that Mr Smith appeared! • almost to break down on! ■ Thursday during a speech,! ■ and appeared very gloomy i ■ about the chances of peace. rl Mr Smith’s voice faltered as he declared in an address to a local school: "It is bet-;

'ter that we perish in battle than look upon the outrage of our country.” If there had been any real breakthrough in Lusaka, it was reasoned in Salisbury.: iMr Smith might have had; : cause to appear buoyant 'rather than downcast. The “Sunday Mail” newsi paper took Mr Smith to task . for what it said were con'iflicting statements that [| “must surely have left Rho- ; desians confused and bewil- ■ idered.”