Nine Just Men I suppose we are all guilty of
believing our wishes over Rhodesia. Those who wrote to the papers last week to dilate on the strength of moderate white opinion in Rhodesia picked a poor day. The papers also announced that Ian Smith's candidate had been returned unopposed for the Arundel constituency in Salis- bury. An attempt to collect the necessary ten signatures for the nomination of an opposition candidate just failed.
In Kenya there were scores of responsible moderate Europeans, led by Sir Michael Blundell and Sir Wilfrid Havelock, who recognised the inevitability and welcomed the prospect of Afri- can rule. They were reviled by the right and often abused by the left, but they provided the tugs that brought Kenya into harbour. Where are such men in the vastly larger white com- munity in Rhodesia? Garfield Todd and Leo Baron, yes. How many more will advocate openly majority rule at a date not too distant? Very few. It has always been go. Yet one must hope on, even against the evidence. Are there not ten just men, no not in Arundel? Not yet.
Previous page
