RHODESIA 7 w
The Prime Minister, Sir Robert Manzie -ree
Rhodesian situation today in reply t-a question in e -ouse of
Representatives from Mr. Nicholls ( Bonython, For your
information, the text of the question and answer follows:-
Queation: " I ask the Prime Minister a question. A week has
elapsed since the right honourable gentleman was asked a
question about Rhodesia. In that time, the Prime Ministers
: f Britain and Rhodesia are reported to have referred to the
role that the right honourable gentleman might play in
settling the differences between those countries. Will the
Prime Minister state the Government's attitude on this matter
which not only can affect the peace of Rhodesia and the major
African States but the standing in the world of the entire
British Cmmonwealth?"
Answer: " The h. nourable member may take it that this is a preblem
that we have approached with a proper realisation of its very
grave importance. " Some days ago, the Prime Minister of Great Britain,
his discussions in London having failed to produce an agreement,
rang me and promoted to me an idea that there might be a
Cmmnwealth mission to Rhodesia which, if it were to be
useful, should include, say, two f the African leaders one
from Asia and myself. This presented me with a very Aifficult
problem. Mr. Nilson followed up his call that night with a
cable repeating his request.
" I di not need to tell the honour-ble member that this
presented me with some political difficulties, but I gave the
matter a lot of thought. I concluded that I ought nt to
stand in the way if the sending of a Commonwealth mission
because slight though the hspe might be, there might be same
hope of arriving at a composition. So, after great and
anxious thought, I sdd that I would be willing to go. I
showed to the Leider of the Opposition for his information my
cable and my reasons.
" In the result, as we now know, the Prime Minister Lf
Rhodesia has rejected the missivn idea. He has said that he
does not want a mission and that he will not receive it.
This means that the whole position goes back into a state of
deadlock. It loaks as though one cannot be positive
however this deadlcck is to be resolved by the Gcvernment
df Southern Rhodesia declaring its independence unilaterally
in nther words, illegally. Th~ t may not be the situation but
at the present momen,, this seems to be the case.
" Mossages have been exchanged, I gather between Mr.
Wilson and Mr. S. iith. I h:-ve n t seen the text of thtse
messages. I have had no further ccmmunications. Even at the
last moment we all hope that better counsels will prevail and,
to say nothing else, that there may be some process of delay
in which heat can go down and in which people can accommodate
themselves to new ideas.
" I do not think there are many people, even among
African leaders, who have strong views en this matter, who
would demand an instantaneous creation of adult suffrage in
Rhodesia. I think most people looking at the situation hope
to see steady progress a phasing in of the ultimate majority
rights of the native people. / 2
2
" That has been my own view. It-s a vd avocated in
London and which indeed I pressed to Mr, Smithin a long letter to
him when he was in London for these discussions. This view
appears to be imacceptable to the Government of Rhodesia and it
looks as if we will ave some extremely difficult problems
presented to us. Of course, none of us would fail to understand
something of the position of the European settlers, if I may so
call them, chiefly the British settlers, in Southern Rhodesia.
They have made an enormous contribution to the country. They
have rights which everybody would want to protect. 3o the matter
is not utterly simple.
" What will be done in the event of a unilateral declaration
of inaependence will be decided, in the first place, I have no
doubt, by the Government of Great Britain, which is the colonial
power an which by common agreement amongst all of us, has the
responsibility or dealing with the Government of Rhodesia.
This is a matter between the two of them. In due course, we will
learn what the Government of Great Britain proposes and we will,
as a Government have to give earnest thought to what we will
present to the Parliament as the policy of the Government. That
is as far as I , ant to go at present; but one thing is certain:
If there is a unilateral declaration of independence, there can
be Lo diplomatic reconition by the Australian Government cf a
government so formed.
CANBERRA, 21st October, 1965.