KENYA: RHODESIA CONFERENCE CHAIRMAN IVOR RICHARD WARNS OF WAR AMONG NATIONALISTS -- 'DANGER TO PEACE IN AFRICA'.

Record ID: 208522

  • Title: KENYA: RHODESIA CONFERENCE CHAIRMAN IVOR RICHARD WARNS OF WAR AMONG NATIONALISTS -- 'DANGER TO PEACE IN AFRICA'.
  • Date: 15th January 1977
  • Summary: 1. SVs INTERIOR British Chairman of Rhodesia Geneva Conference Ivor Richard talking to newsmen in Nairobi, Kenya and newsmen listening. (2 shots) 1.49 2. SV Photographers 1.52 3. SV Richard continues speaking 2.58 TRANSCRIPT: REPORTER: '...of you to see that neither dictates the talks?' SEQ. 1: BRITISH GENEVA RHODESIA CONFERENCE CHAIRMAN IVOR RICHARD: 'Well, with respect, I think we're talking about two different situations. I mean, the assurance I got from the front-line presidents was designed to deal with the guerrilla war, which is at present being waged by the African nationalists against the Smith Government. As for relations between the nationalist groupings themselves, this, frankly, is not something that I've asked for assurances about, nor is it a situation, frankly, in which we would wish to intervene. I think it's very much a matter for the nationalists themselves to sort out their own representation. When we went to Geneva, we were asked to invite four delegations, and we were asked to invite them by the front-line presidents, and we did. I think it would be very unfortunate indeed if there was a possibility of fighting between the different nationalist groups. I haven't seen any sign of this so far, and I must say I would regard it as unlikely. If there is open fighting between the different nationalist groupings, that's obviously going to make the task of finding a peaceful settlement infinitely more difficult. There's no doubt about that. We then, in effect, have two wars going o simultaneously. You have a guerrilla war going on between the African nationalist forces on the one hand, and Mr. Smith's government forces on the other hand, and you also have fighting going on between the different African delegations. I think that would be an immensely complicating factor, and one which certainly wouldn't help my task.' SEQ. 3: RICHARD: 'I think that all I would say at the moment is to underline perhaps again what I've done on a number of occasions, and which my Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister have also done -- naming the enormous dangers there are to peace in this region; in the whole of Africa; and indeed possibly even on a global scale if the war is allowed to increase and perhaps get out of control. The great danger about wars is that they're very difficult to contain. It's very difficult to fight a little war or a limited war. They tend to spread, and once they spread, people tend to get sucked in almost against their better judgement and against their will. I think the dangers are very real, and that's one of the reasons why we're very anxious to see now far we can go along the road towards a peaceful settlement, and do it quickly.' Initials VS 15.15 Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 30th January 1977 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: NAIROBI, KENYA
  • Country: Kenya
  • Reuters ID: LVA9GF2SHUIC67YI0FHE7VMYSP7W
  • Story Text: INTRODUCTION: The Chairman of the Geneva Conference on Rhodesia, Mr. Ivor Richard of Britain, has warned of the dangers of war among rival African nationalists. He was commenting on the recent decision by the five so-called 'front-line' president to elect nationalist leaders Robert Mugabe and Joshua Nkomo as the sole representatives of Rhodesian blacks at Geneva. This has bitterly angered rival nationalist Bishop Abel Muzorewa, who has a large following among the country's black population. Mr. Richard delivered his warning at a news conference in Nairobi, Kenya, during his six-nation tour of Africa trying to reconvene the postponed conference.

    SYNOPSIS: Pointing out the dangers of war, Mr. Richard said:
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