FOR PRESS: P. M. No. 2/ 1966
RHODESIA
Statement by the Prime Minister, Sir Robert Menzies
Cabinet yesterday, after a complete review of
the proposals of the Prime Minister of Nigeria for a special
Commonwealth Conference on Rhodesia, reaffirmed its view,
which I had already announced, that such a conference should
not be attended by Australia as a participant. We will ask
Sir Abubakar Balewa to permit our High Commissioner to Nigeria,
Mr. Cumes, to attend as an observer only.
ire have taken our decisions on this matter on a
ground of important principle adherence to which is in our
opinion of the greatest importance to the long-term future
and interests of Australia and of the Commonwealth. We put
them in this order because
1. Our prime duty is to Australia.
2. If the modern Commonwealth, on the initiative
of some or many of its members, begins to claim
the right to intervene in and give orders in
relation to matters which are the proper concern
of some individual member of the Commonwealth
good relations cannot long continue, nor can the
present Commonwealth structure long endure.
As I have previously pointed out the last Prime
Ministers' Conference in 1965 unanimously declared ( not for the
first time) that " the authority and responsibility for leading
her remaining colonies, including Southern Rhodesia, to
independence must continue to rest with Britain."
Britain having the sole authorit and ility,
is it for the rest of us to give instructions to ritain
as ohow she is to use her authority and discharge her
responsibility? My Government strongly believes that it is not.
For if Britain can be instructed or coerced by the Commonwealth
or most of its members in a matter which is by concession,
hers and hers alone to deal with, then Australia can some day
be instructed or coerced on some matter in which the sole
jurisdiction resides with Australia.
We emphasise this. It is the essence of our
case, and the basis of our attitude. g7e state it not simply
as something affecting the present Australian Government; it
will be of continuing importance for all future Governments in
our country. There need be no misapprehension about our attitude
towards the events in Rhodesia. V'e have not given either
orders or advice to Britain. We have supported her actions
by similar actions in the fields of non-recognition, in economic
and financial sanctions. We are opposed to the use of force
for compelling a constitutional settlement. . e wish to see
by proper degrees and with reasonable preparation, a majority
of African voters in Rhodesia. ' e hope that Rhodesians themselves
will become , illing to reopen negotiations with Britain to
achieve this result. / 2
2-
We are not a party principal in this matter
our prime responsibilities and problems are nearer home. With
great respect to the distinguished convener of the Special
Conference, we cannot see any useful result flowing From it.
If all the Commonwealth countries take the same view as Britain
does ( and as we do), there is no occasion for a special conference
to record that fact. If, as seems painfully clear, there are
Commonwealth countries which will be satisfied by nothing less
than armed force directed against Rhodesia, with all its
dreadful consequences for Africa and for the relationship of
the races in that country, the conference could not do more than
expose great differences and create much bitterness, with all the
distortions and even misrepresentations which such a ' tate of
affairs would inevitably produce.
It will then be seen that we base our decision
upon what is to us a gTeat principle, and also upon the immediate
practical considerations which I have endeavoured to state.
CANBERRA, 6th January, 1966