A Spectator's Notebook
0 Mr Nkomo faces many difficulties after returning to Salisbury to resume his constitutional talks with Mr Smith, and one of them is particularly pressing. By virtue of the 'Declaration of Intention to Negotiate a Settlement', signed by both on December 1, the conditions under which the African National Council can expect to negotiate are clearly stipulated: 'Representatives of the ANC at any meeting or meetings . . . shall have full freedom and/or diplomatic immunity in respect of the following: '(a) from preventive detention or restriction for any act or omission in or outside Rhodesia; and `(b) to enter and depart freely from Rhodesia; and '(c) subject to the confidentiality of the discussions agreed . . .
'(d) not to be subjected to any observation, harassment or recording by film, tape, other mechanical device or other means not expressly authorised by themselves . . . any reference to "representatives of the ANC" shall be construed as a reference to all persons nominated by the ANC . . . in any capacity whatsoever, whether as delegates, advisers, aides or in any other capacity . .
While in Britain, Mr Nkomo made public the fact that he wants Garfield Todd to be present at the talks as an adviser. The Rhodesian authorities have replied that Mr Todd will not be allowed to take part, however, and that after his muzzled holiday in Britain he is to be returned to detention on his farm. This may be read as an infringement of the declaration of intention to negotiate a settlement — an infringement which has the effect of putting Mr Nkomo in a peculiarly invidious position. There Is already a great deal of scepticism about the value of any discussions with Mr Smith. If they were to proceed without Mr Todd there would be even more. The only person with the power to change Mr Smith's mind and to assist Mr Nkomo in his pursuit of peaceful change is Mr Vorster. Mr Nkomo has no direct links with Mr Vorster, however. But Mr Callaghan has — and moreover the Foreign Secretary possesses a Copy of the intent to settle, signed by Mr Smith.
O It would probably be better if Mr Roy Mason kept out of any of the arguments which may arise over Mrs Thatcher's recent remarks about Russian military power. Abuse can be left to the Russians. Mr Mason at least knows the facts and it is significant that in his attack he did not actually say that she was wrong about those facts. This was just as well: they speak for themselves.
If we consider what the Russians and the Warsaw Pact have in Western Europe, we may wonder if these forces are required only for self-defence. If they are not what are they for? In eastern Europe the Russians now have a total of thirty-one divisions deployed. They have a further twenty-plus positioned in Western Russia able to move at short notice into Eastern Europe. To these can be added a further thirty-seven non-Russian divisions, excluding those of Rumania and Bulgaria. This formidable array of power is not there for purely defensive reasons. We know that their training is geared to the practice and perfection of offensive operations, and unlike NATO formations, they are all equipped with offensive chemical and biological weapons.
The introduction into the Russian air force of the Fox BAT high-performance aircraft has made a significant addition to the effectiveness of Soviet air power. Armed with air-to-ground missiles and with its extended range, it is possible for this type of .aircraft, of which the Russians already have between forty and fifty in service, to attack targets in the UK approaching from the West. Supporting their ground forces, they have over a thousand attack aircraft deployed in Eastern Europe. These facts are not classified in that they are generally known. But there are no doubt other facts of which Mr Mason is aware, which, added to these already listed, make it singularly inappropriate for him to enter the lists in attacking Mrs Thatcher as a 'cold war warrior'. That stating of facts is not warmongering.
D However much we may sympathise with Mr Jeremy Thorpe in his present tribulations there can be no denying that he was gravely at fault in associating with Mr Gerald Caplan's wretched London and County Securities. He was unwise to join such a company, still more unwise to remain when its affairs were becoming suspect. In consequence his judgment was compromised.
It is sad to have to say this of someone who has served the Liberal Party so well. But political leadership is an exacting calling imposing exacting standards, both public and private (indeed they cannot be separated). Mr Thorpe may survive, or he may not. But even in spite of the Caplan affair the Liberals would be the poorer without him. 0 On a more cheerful note, we can all wish Mr Selwyn Lloyd the happiest of retirements. He has been an outstandingly good and successful Speaker. As a peer (Lord Selwyn-Lloyd) it is to be hoped that he will remain a familiar figure in the Palace of Westminster for many years.
It is equally to be hoped that he will lose no time in pressing on with his memoirs, which ought to be of commanding interest; especially over Suez, when he was Foreign Secretary. Much has still to be explained about that ill-fated enterprise. Was Mr Lloyd as wholeheartedly in favour of it as he appeared? Or did he have inner reservations — like Mr Heath for one?.
A distinguished old Conservative, now retired, was saying the other day (in private conversation) that midway through the crisis Mr Lloyd was wondering whether to resign. He consulted the distinguished old Conservative (then twenty years younger, of course), who advised him not to resign but to seek a change of office. In the event, he soldiered on valiantly at the FO until Mr Macmillan, after succeeding Sir Anthony Eden, was able to post him to the Treasury.
0 It is now fourteen years since Mr David Marquand embarked on a Life of Ramsay MacDonald. Not surprisingly, perhaps, he has been overtaken by another biographer, a late starter — Mr Humphry Berkeley. The latter has just delivered 85,000 words to-Weidenfeld, and his book should appear in the autumn.
Mr Berkeley began his researches last August, and finished them by Christmas. He had full access to the Cabinet papers of the 1931 crisis, and read forty-four books. The writing he completed in a space of five weeks, working twenty-one hours a day and refreshed by a nightly bottle of champagne. Some authors are quicker than others, of course.
D It is surely a departure from , diplomatic precedent for one ambassador to attack another, recently departed from the same accreditation. This is what Mr Ivor Richard, our representative at the United Nations, has done with his unseemly public expression of gratitude at Mr Daniel Moynihan's resignation. Whatever one thinks of Mr Moynihan, he is his own man, and a remarkable one. Such discourtesy does not become Mr Richard, who by no stretch of the imagination could be described as either.
All too many restaurants seem increasinglY reluctant to serve tea, rather than coffee, after lunch or dinner. Even in an Indian curry house a waiter was heard explaining to an incredulous customer the other night that no tea was available, only coffee. Coffee after curry! But the diner was a person of stern will. He insisted on having tea — and got it. The drinking of tea, which is much better for you than coffee, is a most civilised habit and ought to be encouraged.
0 Some public bodies display a strange lack of propriety or simple understanding. A fortnight ago these columns contained a note about commercial radio, complimentary to one station, rather critical of others. Shortly afterwards the Independent Broadcasting Authority rang up to ask who had written The Authority is evidently unfamiliar with the conventions of journalism — one of which is that a 'house' Notebook such as this is a form 01 editorial expression, not to be confused with signed articles or ascribed to a single individual.
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