TNAG-0742-FCO40-946-Relations-between-China-and-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 168

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5.

Dr Owen Mr Talboys asked about President Nyerere's role. said that President Kaunda's influence was now more important. He was increasingly aware that the future of Zambia was linked with that of Rhodesia. Moreover his leverage over the Patriotic

It was true that Front was now greater than that of Nyerere.

But if the

the present British policy was a high risk strategy. Front Line Presidents were alienated they would come under much greater pressure to take more Cubans. Mr Talboys asked what

Dr Owen said that evidence there was for a Cuban involvement.

The nucleus

there were 500 Cubans in Mozambique and 70 in Zambia. was there. He did not believe that the Cubans would send troops into Rhodesia but they could stiffen up the Patriotic Front by moving in ground-to-air missiles effectively stopping any more border raids. He believed that the French did not wish to exaggerate the East-West emphasis of the present situation. In answer to a question from Mr Talboys about his recent speech in the Foreign Affairs Debate, Dr Owen said that he stood by

He had wanted a little more everything he had said there.

toughness in US/African policy. It was necessary to be very wary of Cuban involvement in Zaire.

6.

Mr Talboys asked about the timescale for a Rhodesian solution. Dr Owen said that he thought that July and August would be the crunch months but the UK would go on trying to bring the parties to the table into the autumn if this were necessary.

7. Mr Talboys asked where the proposal for a UN peace-keeping force stood. Dr Owen said that a lot of people including Nkomo and Sithole did not want this. A UN presence might certainly be desirable but a large force might not in the end be necessary. However it was important to keep the idea on the table for the time being. Would New Zealand be prepared to contribute to such a force? Mr Talboys said that the matter had been discussed at the recent ANZUS talks. A contribution would pose very real diffi- culties for New Zealand. Whether they could contribute would depend on the climate at the time and the role of any force.

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