RHODESIAN CRISIS Britain Planning More Sanctions

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30954, 10 January 1966, Page 11

RHODESIAN CRISIS Britain Planning More Sanctions

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright >

LONDON, January 9.

Britain today warned of further possible economic sanctions against Rhodesia as Heads of State began arriving in Lagos for the Commonwealth conference on the issue.

The British warning < came from the Com- i monwealth Secretary, Mr Arthur Bottomley, who said that Britain was considering the sanctions in a further attempt to topple the Smith Government. Mr Bottomley, who will accompany the British Prime! Minister. Mr Wilson, to the conference, said he hoped! other Commonwealth Conn-! tries would follow Britain’s lead in trying to solve the’ Rhodesian issue without. bloodshed.

Mr Wilson is reported to be drafting the terms under which Britain hopes to bring Rhodesia hack to constitutional rule, which Britain claims was violated when the Smith Government declared unilateral independence on November 11 last year. Political sources said Mr Wilson was being careful that the terms avoided being puni-

tive or humiliating, but was] determined that Mr Smith] should not head any new I Rhodesian Government. Mr Wilson has been warned ; by the Conservative Opposi-j tion against letting the Afri-J can nations pressure him into ] “disastrously” harsh meas- | tires against the Rhodesian | whites. The acting Conservative] Party leader, Mr Reginald Maudling. said he hoped Mr] Wilson’s attendance at the] Lagos conference would help ! toward a Rhodesian settle-] ment “But I must warn him that j he cannot expect our support j if he is pushed down a road

I that could lead to disaster," jhe said. “Mr Wilson must make it absolutely clear that Britain will in no circumstances contemplate or consider the use of military force to solve the constitutional problem and that, therefore, we cannot support measures whose logical outcome could be the use of force.” The conference is scheduled : Ito open next Tuesday. It will i be devoted to a single topic— I ] Rhodesia. • In Kuala Lumpur, the ;i Prime Minister, I ■lTunku Abdul Rahman, criti-1 t cised Australia for declining

to take part in the Lagos talks. “1 am very disappointed by Australia’s attitude,” he said. He said he had told Australia: "Whether you think the conference is going to be a success or not, it is your duty as a Commonwealth member to try and make the Commonwealth operate.” The Tunku said Malaysia remained opposed to the use of fource in Rhodesia. Ceylon’s Justice Minister. Mr A. F. Wijemanne, who is ] already in Lagos, said Ceylon 1 was going to advocate the use i of force to topple the breakaway Rhodesian regime.