487. Telegram From the Consulate General in Southern Rhodesia to the Department of State1
281. Received this morning following reply from PM Smith to President’s letter of Oct 29 (connectives omitted):
“Dear Mr. President:
Roswell D. McClelland, American Consul General, has delivered to me your urgent personal message dated 29th October and, in receiving message, I asked him thank you very much indeed. I appreciate tremendously fact that Chief Executive of United States, in midst of his heavy responsibilities, can find time to give his consideration to future of Rhodesia.
I wish to assure you, Mr. President, that it is firm intention of Rhodesian Government to seek solution of its problems with British Government through patient negotiations and discussion. I and my colleagues in the government will go on trying as long as hope remains. Current negotiations have by no means been suspended and we are continuing exchange ideas although Mr. Wilson has, naturally enough, in view of his own many duties, had to return to Great Britain. We have made significant steps forward and there is hope that differing views of two governments will be brought together eventually in support of successful conclusion.
We in Rhodesia reciprocate with utmost sincerity your conviction that peaceful, honorable and constitutional solution can be found. To this end we also have made proposals to British Government and are hopeful we will reach solution and that British Government will contribute materially [Page 833] towards this by conceding reasonable and statesmanlike compromises. It is encouraging to know that such a solution will have full support of Government of USA. You may rely upon us to do our best to bring about this happy state of affairs.
Yours sincerely, I. Douglas Smith”
Original by pouch.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 19 RHOD. Confidential. Repeated to London.↩