Nusa 1 9 6 5
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
NEWS SL"AMARY ON RHODESIA NEWS SL"AMARY ON RHODESIA National Student Christian Federation Committee on Southern Africa 475 Riverside Drive, Room 754, New-York, New York 10027 NOVEMBER 28: Rouan Catholic Church- speaks out: The strongest church attack on the Smith regime was issued by the Roman Catholic church in a pastoral letter distributed after the services today. It called attention to the dangers of-placing nationalism, race, or economics above'a basic concern for man. It refuted the idea that white silence has neant consent, Rather the silence is a silence of "fear, disappointment, and hopelessness". It condemned Smith for declaring independence and said that the country's racial policies were just asking for trouble. There are- 23,000 white Catholics, 304,000 black Catholics and 4,000 of mixed blood., Other churchmen, have also spoken out. However, in spite of the strong opposition expressed by the Anglican Archbishop of Salisbury, the Anglican church is very divided in its response to U.D.I. British Troops for Zambia: Zambia has &&ked Britian for troops to protect the Kariba dam and is preparing a course of action if Britian refuses. Kaunda called a special cabinet meeting to lay out such plans. However, they will probably not be necessary. Malcolm MacDonald is back in Britian and met with Wilson. MacDonald was expected to analyse the reality of Zambia's statement that it would seek aid elsewhere if Britian refused to act. MacDonald a13o has influence in Conservative circles which could be extremely important in getting their support for a British force in Zambia. Most likely a token force will be sent, Kaunda is highly respected in Britian and the prospects of other nation's forces in Zambia is not a happy one to Britian. Britian has real reason to want to protect Zambia as most of Britian's copper comes from Zambia. Some in Britian fear sending in any troops as this appears to them to be an encouragement to sabotage. Attempts would be made to force Britian to increase her commitment. From 'the point of view of acme in Zambia, this is a highly'positive prospect, a way of getting Britian to intervene directly in Rhodesia. Railway Strike Ends: The white railwaymen who went on strike in Zambia, protesting attacks'on their families have returned to work. President Kaunda has given assurances that they will be protected. Interview with Ian Smith: Emery Barcs had an interview with Ian Smith on November 27, which was copycighted by the Australian Consolidated Press and printed in the London Observer, November 28. Powtions of the interview appear below: "Things have gone better than anticipated since his declaration of independence according to Mr. Ian Smith, the rebel Rhodesian Prime Minister... " We have had a large number of indications of friendship from many different countries in the world. I would rather not, of course, mention them specifically because I think you will accept this would put these countries in an embarrassing position...' Smith said. "'People have not only written to us, but have come here to offer their advice and tell us how we can overcome our problems. Certainly one or two of them have been commercial ventures with people who want to make a little bit 6or themselves, but there is nothing wrong is this. There have been some people who have no intention of making money. They have come here because in principle, they believe this is a country that must be helped. They have paid theiz own expenses and have gone away at thQ.Zi own expense.I Rhodesian News Summary 14 Nov. 28, cont. "Next I asked what Mr. Smith thoughtabout the threats of war against Rhodesia. "'You mean threats from pan-Africanists and African nationalists to the north of us? Well, I don't want to appear to treat this too lightheartedly, but I must be honest and I can only tell you that we don't regard this as anything serious. It is not a practicat suggestion. There is no country in Africa to the north of us that can in any way compare its military strength with our own efficient war machinery.' "L aeked: 'Have you any concrete plans about African advancement?' "Mr. Smith replied: 'Certainly, and in fact, I am hoping to announce something about our plans which are being worked cut now.' "I asked what proportion of Africans back Mr. Smith. "He answered: 'My view is that the majority of Africans can't understand what has happened and in the circumstances it is very difficult for them to express any opinion as to whether they support the change or don't. However, I believe that the majority of that section of African opinion which has some idea of what is happening supports the action we have taken.' I asked: 'You mean the articulate African opinion?' Mr. Smith replied: 'Yes, those who are opposed to us I think are political opportunists who are being used as a tool of Communism and, of course, I have concrete evidence that these Africans are being paid by the Communists.' "Next we discussed what i called 'the family quarrel' between Britian and Rhodesia. "'I am always an optimist,' he said, 'and I think these difficulties can be overcome and the family can be reunited. This quarrel which is taking place now is between ourselves and the British politicians, not the people of Britian. I don't think there has ever been greater sympathy among the people of Britian for Rhodesia than there is today.' "Did he think America was in the sane position. "' Yes, I do. I think the American Government has made it clear that what actions are made against us are made in keeping with the lead the British Government has given,' Mr. Smith said." SOURCES: The New York Times, November 29. The Observer, November 28. The Economist, November 27. NEWS SUMMARY ON RHODESIA 15> National Student Christian Federation Committee on Southern-Africa. 475 Riverside Drive, Room 754 New York, N.Y. 10027 NOVEMBER. 29:. British Troops to Zambia: Reuters reported that Britian has agreed "in principle" to send' a token force of aircraft .followed by a limited number of ground troops to Zambia. These forces are strictly for use within Zambia and under no circumstances are to be used against Rhodesia. Kaunda asked for the force to protect the Kariba dam. Britian's response is largely due to a desire to keep Zambia from turning to African or Arab states for, troops. However, the presence of the forces Will secure Zambia's airfields if Rhodesia closes her border, forcing Zambia to fly copper out: and oil in. The second British cabinet meeting in 24 hours is expected to be held Nov. 30 to discuss.the operation. Wilson is-then expected to make a statement to parliament. African Protest in Rhodesia: In spite of a mandatory death sentence for terrorism or sabotage, dozens of incidents are taking paace in and'around Salisbury, according to N.Y. Times reporter Lawrence Fellows. Buses are stopped in-an effort to keep Africans from getting to their jobs in white parts of Rhodesia. Numerous incidents of gasoline bombs have been reported. Hcwever, a general strike in Bulawayo was prevented last week and police helicopters are keeping order there. A strike planned for- today in Salisbury was frustrated by the arrest of a number of nationalist leaders who were shipped to restricted areas. So far this year there have been about 500 instances of property damage by the African opposition. Fellows reported that Russian-made hand grenades had been found and that a group of terrorists trained in the Soviet Union had been picked up last August, as a third of the group turned out to be informers. Minister of Law and Order, Desmond Lardner-Burke reported that African nationalists were trained in Ghana and then reentered Rhodesia from Zambia. He said there were 7 or 8 hundred such people being trained, but that the police and the special emergency powers of the government were strong enough to control any African violence. African acts of violence are committed to express the extreme'opposition that the Africans feel toward the Smith regime. The hope is that the economy can be crippled, destroying Smith, and that British troops can be forced to intervene. Lack of jobs and detention of leadership greatly multiply the African's problems. It was reported that Sithole is in a Salisbury jail, not at Sikombela. Wilson met with both Joshua Nkomo and Sithole- when he was in Rhodesia before U.D.I. According to a member of his delegation, he was nctimpressed with either leader.' British Action: In spite. of anticipated negative reaiction from the Conservatives, Wilson appears ready to increase the economic pressures on Rhodesia. Probable measures include, first Of all, the extension of Britian's Rhodesian News Summary 16 Nov.29,cont. ..... : .16 trade embargo to include more than tobacco, sugar,, chrome, and copper which it has already ceased to buy. Secondly, the financial measures On which Wilson already has authority to act, could be applied in the extreme. These measures require official.permission.for nearly all transfers from or to the special quarantined Rhodesian: stering accounfis. Rhodesian iip6rtes ca"be forced to pay for all:British goods 'in [email protected] ' .And sthey also iut g. pecif4q permission from the Bank of .rigland fo e:achpment.hu~ u~ it would be. easy to campletely strangle trado'bet ed ritian and. -Rh6desia,"and between RhQdesia and other -nati.'.Rhodes ia wouldiot .able to get foreign exchange. The only sour¢t, uld be her gldi exports which Could be sold in Zurich instead :of ondon and'whi6 amo0fted to almost $20, million a year overthe last gh Rh could be hurt .