The Press SATURDAY, JANUARY 15, 1966. Lagos—And After

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30959, 15 January 1966, Page 12

The Press SATURDAY, JANUARY 15, 1966. Lagos—And After

Fears that the Lagos conference of Commonwealth representatives would merely emphasise and exacerbate differences over Britain’s policies in Rhodesia caused some people to cast a sceptical eye over the whole affair. It will be a pleasant surprise to the sceptics, therefore, that some positive achievements can be recorded. Not the least is the fact that, on the initiative of a member of the “ new ” Commonwealth, a Commonwealth meeting was held for the first time outside London, and it is gratifying that so notable an occasion in Commonwealth history attracted to it such prominent statesmen of the “ old ” Commonwealth as the British Prime Minister and the Prime Minister of the senior Commonwealth nation. It would have been too much to expect the delegates to approve unanimously Britain’s policies; whatever their personal views might be, most African statesmen must defer publicly in some measure to fierce nationalistic winds blowing in their own countries. In the circumstances, the tone of the Lagos discussions was comparatively mild—in sharp contrast to the extravagance of the resolution of the Organisation of African Unity, which fixed an unrealistic deadline for Britain to end the Rhodesian rebellion. The Lagos communique implies acceptance by the delegates that economic and financial sanctions must be given a reasonable period in which to demonstrate their effectiveness or failure. At Lagos, Mr Wilson spoke not only to the assembly but to a much wider area of opinion when making it clear that the British Government had no intention of merely responding to an African pressure group. Mr Wilson has consistently rejected a military solution in Rhodesia, and he continued to do so at Lagos. Force must remain the ultimate sanction, but Mr Wilson’s insistence that the Rhodesian rebellion can be ended by other means without bloodshed found support from the majority.

From Lagos, attention will turn to the British Government’s proposals for Rhodesia’s future. Before he left London, Mr Wilson said he would shortly set out in detail the basis on which Rhodesia could return to constitutional rule. This does not mean one man, one vote, tomorrow. In speaking to the United Nations Mr Wilson said time is needed —“ time “ measured not by clock or calendar, but by “ achievement in working within a multi-racial “ Government ”. Mr Wilson has repeated this several times, and the policy that is evolving will place obligations on Rhodesia’s Africa population to show willingness to make a multi-racial society work before they can get majority rule. Whether the Commonwealth Secretary, Mr Bottomley, will be able to fulfil plans for immediate discussions in Rhodesia is not certain at present. The omens for temperate discussions are not propitious. The boorish behaviour of some of Mr Smith’s supporters to visiting Labour members of the House of Commons is reminiscent of Hitler’s bully-boys; the spitefulness of the Smith regime’s actions towards the Governor (cutting telephone wires, returning franked mail) merely childish. The chagrin can be understood, though not approved, of people who see policies in jeopardy which would never permit African advancement to the point at which white supremacy might be challenged. But it is to be hoped that responsible people will be able to make an impression on white Rhodesian opinion before the economy is wrecked; and most certainly before British opinion, tired of Rhodesian tantrums, is ready to let responsibility pass from British hands.