CAB148-30-Defence and Oversea Policy Committee Meetings Relating to 1967 Disturbances-1967 — Page 47

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RHODESIA: REVIEW OF THE PRESENT SITUATION AND POSSIBLE RESTATEMENT OF BRITISH POLICY

The Committee had before them two memoranda by the Commonwealth Secretary covering notes by officials (i) reviewing the present situation in Rhodesia (OPD(67) 5) and (ii) discussing the question of a possible restatement of United Kingdom policy towards Rhodesia (OPD(67) 6).

THE COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY recalled that following the rejection

by the illegal regime of the proposals which had been drawn up on

HMS

Tiger in discussion between the Prime Minister and Mr. Smith, the

head of the regime, the Security Council at our initiative had on 16th December last passed a mandatory Resolution introducing selective

sanctions against Rhodesia, the relevant Orders in Council to give effect

to which had now been approved by Parliament. In accordance with the undertaking in the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' communique in September

last, the Prime Minister had on 20th December in a statement to

Parliament confirmed that all previous offers made to the regime had been

withdrawn and that the Government would not now be prepared to grant

independence before majority rule. He had also described the broad

objective of United Kingdom policy as being to secure a just and fair

settlement of the Rhodesia problem and had suggested that the way to a

settlement might lie in our negotiating with a legal administration the

restoration of full self-government to Rhodesia on the basis of the

1961 Constitution.

As regards the present situation in Rhodesia there was reason to believe

that sanctions were,

as a result of the earlier measures taken, now beginning to have substantial effect. While undoubtedly there were

leakages, and new avenues of trade were being explored by the regime,

the Rhodesian economy was already badly hit and by June or July with the

need to dispose of the new tobacco crop and to take decisions about

further planting the regime were likely to be in a difficult position.

On the political side, following the rejection of the "TIGER" proposals

there had been signs of right-wing dissatisfaction with Mr. Smith and

"moderate" elements had for a time appeared ready to make a stand against the regime.« Little had come of these signs of opposition however and it

appeared that the regime were now considering how Rhodesia should dispose

herself to meet the situation arising from the breakdown of the talks

with us. A struggle seemed likely to develop between the relatively few

in favour of maintaining a multi-racial political approach and those who

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