CAB148-30-Defence and Oversea Policy Committee Meetings Relating to 1967 Disturbances-1967 — Page 337

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no longer be in the position of constantly having to ask other Government s for help in enforcing sanctions, with the consequent weakening of our diplomatic position in the world. It must, however, be realised that even this course would risk our involvement in policies in the United

Nations which might be awkward, if not entirely unacceptable.

In working towards disengagement, we should aim to bring other

countries to realise the difficulties of the Rhodesian problem.

One way

of identifying other countries with the problem might be to arrange for

a United Nations mission, preferably under Canadian chairmanship, to visit Rhodesia, and neighbouring countries. Something would be gained even if

the mission were refused admission to Rhodesia. There might be less

difficulty in persuading the United Nations to share our responsibility

if Rhodesia declared itself a Republic. Another approach might be by

trying to bring about United Nations inspection of the effectiveness of sanctions. The recently published report on sanctions of the Secretary

General of the United Nations might help towards this. Even if it were

decided that our best policy was to aim at disengagement, there might

nevertheless still be advantage in trying to achieve more effective

observance of sanctions as a tactical move for the medium term.

further extension of sanctions would need careful consideration.

proposal to add nickel to the list of mandatory sanctions carried

considerable dangers since there was at present a worldwide shortage.

But any

The

THE PRIME MINISTER, summing up the discussion, said that sanctions

were having some effect on Rhodesia, and were producing economic

stagnation; but they did not seem likely to bring about a change of

heart or achieve the split in the regime of which there had at one time

been some hope. It was the general feeling of the Committee that further consideration should be given to the possibilities of disengagement.

There could be no question of surrendering to the illegal regime. But we should consider more closely the possibility of terminating our special

jurisdictional responsibility for Rhodesia: and of achieving a position in which we would have no more responsibility for Rhodesia or for applying

and enforcing sanctions than any other major member of the United Nations.

There would be advantage in re-examining the possibilities in a small group of Ministers.

He would consider the composition of such a group, of which the United Kingdom Representative at the United Nations,

Lord Caradon, should be a member.

One of the subjects which the group

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