SALISBURY TALKS Negotiation Basis Still Sought

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31080, 8 June 1966, Page 17

SALISBURY TALKS Negotiation Basis Still Sought

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

EDINBURGH, June 7,

A Government Minister said yesterday there was “a prospect of negotiations” with the Salisbury Government to settle the Rhodesian rebellion.

Mrs Judith Hart, Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations, said this in a speech as delegates of the British and Smith Governments were seeking in Salisbury a basis for formal negotiations to end the crisis caused by Rhodesia’s seizure of independence. Mrs Hart said this possibility of early negotiations was “a tribute to the clear and strong line” the British Government has taken in the crisis.

She added: “It is a tribute, too, to the co-operation and understanding we have had from other Commonwealth countries even where they have disagreed with us, who share our deep concern about the fundamental human issues involved.” Call for Force In London, a leader of Rhodesia’s African nationalists called on Britain to crush lan Smith’s Salisbury regime by force, release all nationalists from prison and hold a constitutional conference to lay plans for the transfer of power from the white minority to the black majority. Frank Ziyambi, representative of the Z.A.N.U. Party in Europe, told a news conference: “Granting independence to a minority government will not solve the problem but will only multiply and intensify racial hatred and bloodshed.”

He said that should Britain refuse to heed the appeal for force “then the only way left

open to quell the rebellion is by an internal revolt.”

He added: “Time is running out. Tensions are mounting. The situation is explosive.”