1
Memo from LORD ELTON
Re:
Conversation with Bishop Muzerewa
17th March, 1978
:
He has become aware of the urgent need for some validated expression of public support for the Salisbury Settlement in Zimbabwe. The two main obstacles to this are the ability of the Patriotic Front to disrupt the process and the probable difficulty of getting external observation/ratification of it following the UN resolution declaring the administration set up by the Settlement to be illegal.
His urgent plea is for recognition by HMG at the earliest possible moment.
In the event of South Africa being the only power prepared to assist them in an acute military emergency "they would have become angels".
Unlike Anthony Cross (my memo of 15th March) he thinks they would get some of Nkomo's support away from him. Terms for resettlement of guerillas will be published shortly. He claims that a number of Nkomo's supporters have already been disarmed, after defection, by Zambia. Lend would be dvoulibut-po- residíementi
His staff was in a state of approaching euphoria but I think the Bishop has got both feet on the ground.
Lord Elton
Z