As guerrilla activity mounts in Zimbabwe against the white racist regime, creased 'diplomatic pressure' is being mounted from Whitehall to force to come to a deal: The main aim of this pressure is to force him to make cessions to the moderate wing of the ANC (led by Joshua Nkomo*) in an attempt to could sweep through the whole of South- head off the threat of a race war ern Africa.
The most recent diplomatic manoeuvres followed the breakdown of the talks be -tween Prime Minister Smith and the Zimbabwean nationalist leader Nkomo March as the guerrilla action in Eastern Zimbabwe started to mount. government is only too aware that Istalling tactic employed by Smith since that time - advocating token participation of afew black leaders in the government -is quite inadequate to hold back the ever growing mass pressure for majority rule.
On March 22nd, the then Foreign retary Callaghan outlined a set of proposals to the House of Commons to leasel he situation. Their main aim was to pressurise Smith to make concessions io he Black nationalist leaders by acce=: -g 'in principle' the idea of majority -_e and to hold 'democratic elections.. i thin 18 months to 2 years.
Appeal Callaghan's statement included an appeal to the white settlers to dump Smith * he was unwilling to accept the lAs things are', cath of death and destruction. Vir. Smith is leading the country on the inis late stage, I ask the European popdation of Rhodesia to believe that here s an alternative path...'.
ernative path' was accepted, suggested, the British government.
would participate in the talks to help work out lelection procedures' for the new government.
Callaghan coupled this In -tlers.
«Conwho are Callaghan prime concerns of the last ment The British the cease'.
Interests Seche pointed out, Even at If the 'altCallaghan pressure with financial inducements to the white setThe government would, he said. bewilling to consider 'financial & other means' to assist those 'Europeans prepared to put their faith Rhodesia' by remaining after a Black The aid would include direct grants and loans, as well as an attempt to lift the United Nations economic sanctions against the country.
also expressed one of the British governout to protect its interests not only in Zimbabwe but also in South Africa which a wide-scale race war would threaten - that the settlement should be such that 'guerrilla activity should soon Although Callagnan did not spell it out, the real aim of the British government is precisely to arrange an 'orderly! transfer to majority rule which is, atter ine Angolan experience, seen as inevitable.
Joshua Nkomo and James Callaghan.
Platform' Campaign is tis nonsense. The osing democratic rights is nonsense.
labour movement has never been - as Cde Michelson seems to be - in favour of 'free F.R. (Oxford)
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government is installed. which
speech' for fascists. We Reply