570. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Swaziland1
262085. For Palmer from AF. Ian Smith has sent to Prime Minister Wilson Southern Rhodesia’s formal reply to British “Fearless” proposals. While we do not have exact text, we understand that Smith indicated his willingness to reach agreement if British drop insistence on appeal to Privy Council on constitutional matters. Since Wilson has already told Parliament he is not averse to abandoning the appeal to Privy Council in favor some other “guarantee,” way seems open to a settlement. Afro-Asian nations have begun criticizing what they interpret as British “sell-out.” They introduced resolution in UNGA calling on Britain “not to grant independence to Southern Rhodesia unless it preceded by establishment of a government based on free elections by universal adult suffrage and on majority rule,” and calling on all states “not to recognize any independence to Southern Rhodesia without prior establishment of a government based on majority rule . …” We instructed our delegate to abstain and to make no statement.
Vote in GA October 25: 92 yes; 2 no (South Africa and Portugal); 17 abstentions (including US, Botswana and Malawi).
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 16 RHOD. Confidential; Priority. Drafted by Country Officer for Southern Rhodesia Robert L. Bruce and AFI Policy Reports Officer F. Virginia Montague; cleared by Holmes and Edward J. Alexander of AF; and approved by Director of the Office of Inter-African Affairs Fred L. Hadsel.↩