Rhodesian problem
From Colonel Douglas Kennedy Sir: I believe that Rhodesia could still become a democratically run multi-racial state, its franchise for voters being extended on attainment of agreed educational and property owning standards; and where a white man can freely vote for a black to become his MP and vice versa.
All the ex-British colonial territories north of the Zambesi, as they became independent, started off with attempts at democratically run parliamentary government based on the one-man-one-vote idea, but all have changed very quickly to their present Military governments or virtual dictatorships.
Rhodesia's case is unique in that some eighty years ago ownership of land and minerals was turned over to Cecil Rhodes and subsequently to the British Crown by the then King; and individual ownership of land, with full title as in Britain, has been freely available and in use to all corners ever since. Whereas in the British West African colonies such as Ghana and Nigeria no individual white manwas able to own any agricultural land whatsoever. Also. Parliamentary government in Southern Rhodesia, including some black Rhodesian MPs, has been going strong since just after the 1914 War.
If in the early 1950s the Federation had not Come into being their is little doubt that Southern Rhodesia would today be the leader in black-white co-odstence in Africa, and that her example might well have changed the history of the present South African republic and kept her from the path of apartheid and that she might still be a member of the British Commonwealth.
Turning from supposition to hard facts, there is little doubt that an inCreasing number of black Rhodesian Africans, expecially those serving so loyally in the armed forces and police, are becoming aware that Chinese trained and financed murderers from neighbouring territories are not thez.ort of visitors they welcome — much less to be ruled by.
As more and more become educated there is every reason to believe they will not want to see their fine country desecrated and its liberties destroyed.
Ordinarily, household goods, etc., would largely have been imported, but sanctions have Made it necessary to manufacture these in Rhodesia which has meant much foreign white labour has had to be imported and white trade unions are now definitely hindering the employment of more educated blacks.
For the last ten years the application of sanctions has had to be passed by the Houses of Parliament every year. This generally'happens in November, and for one reason and another the Sanctions Bill has passed quite easily up to now. With the example of the present terrible happenings in the neighbouring countries of Angola and Mozambique surely it is time for MPs to think again and give more informed attention to the whole Rhodesian problem.
If enough of our MPs could be acqbainted with the true facts and so realise the very many gross errors in policy over Rhodesia made by our successive governments ever since — and indeed before — Federation: and so bring themselves to vote against a removal of sanctions this year, then the Government and Foreign Office would of necessity give up their ten-year battle to topple Mr Smith, and instead come to the sensible agreement which is well within reach and which would be of the greatest benefit to every party, especially to Rhodesian Africans.
After the American War of Independence was ended records show it took seven years for Britain to end sanctions officially. Can we never learn to benefit from the lessons history can teach us? Douglas Kennedy Acton Round, Bridgenorth, Shropshire.
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