Pearce at work
Sin The methods of the Pearce Commission give Africans the illusion that by rejecting the agreement they can take over the country with much material gain. Terrorists have been released from detention and Rhodesia has turned from peace to disturbance.
Two officials of the Commission, one a Gas Board official and the other an employee of London University, approached a primitive community and were given logs to sit on while they explained the. settlement. These Africans had never heard of sanctions or the quarrel between Rhodesia and
Britain. The officials asked the Africans what they would like the government to do for them. One African said he would like the government to stop an elephant which keeps coming into his garden. Another said he would like the government to do something about his headache. He was given a couple of aspirins. The officials asked the tribesmen if they wanted to take over the country "slowly slowly or quickly-quickly." The only intelligent observation came from the tribe's spokesman, who said, "It is like a person aroused from a deep sleep. It takes time to open his eyes and see clearly."
The simpletons of the Commission do not realise that many Africans do not know what a vote is and are suspicious of the Westminster system. One group told the Commission that the settlement can be no good because Mr. Heath
is unacceptable to them because he has no children. Sir Alec should have decided on a fait accompli and not played into the hands of the left, who seem to have had their say in picking the members of the Commission.
Robert Copping Ronald Hill Grove, Leigh-on-Sea
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