RHODESIAN REGIME

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30977, 5 February 1966, Page 19

RHODESIAN REGIME

Overthrow Bid Accusation

(N Z.P. A.-Reuter—Copyright)

SALISBURY, Feb. 3.

A Government Minister yesterday claimed that a group of Rhodesians, some in high places, are working to overthrow the breakaway regime and form an alternative Government in Rhodesia. Mr Desmond LardnerBurke, the Minister for Law and Order, made the accusation in a statement at the opening of a session of Parliament in which he introduced a motion to extend the present three-month state of emergency for a further three months.

This was the first major session of Parliament since Mr lan Smith seized independence from Britain on November 11.

Mr Lardner-Burke said that he had learned that “certain misguided individuals, some in high places, some who have held political rank or have represented the Government in various capacities, have formed what has been colloquially referred to as a ‘shadow cabinet.’ “It appears from the information I have received that they are trying to fortn themselves into a government so that they can take over if requested by Sir Humphrey Gibbs, the Governor, or Mr Wilson, the British Prime Minister,” Mr Lardner-Burke said.

He warned the unnamed individuals that “if they continue with their endeavours to overthrow our Government here, we will have no hesitation in dealing with them in exacting the same way as we have dealt with anybody else who has endeavoured to cause bloodshed in this country.” The Minister said that if law and order broke down “a wonderful excuse for intervention in our affairs will be presented to hostile nations and organisations.”

He charged that the obvious intention of the British Government was to cause such a breakdown.