RHODESIA: IAN SMITH RECEIVES BIG VOTE OF CONFIDENCE FROM EXECUTIVE OF RHODESIAN FRONT

Record ID: 328425

  • Title: RHODESIA: IAN SMITH RECEIVES BIG VOTE OF CONFIDENCE FROM EXECUTIVE OF RHODESIAN FRONT
  • Date: 16th July 1968
  • Summary: RHODESIAN FRONT HEADQUARTERS, AND SEVERAL OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE DELEGATES, INCLUDING LORD GRAHAM, THE "MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS AND DEFENCE", MR. IAN SMITH, AND MR. LARDNER BURKE, ARRIVING. Initials RM/VS/MR/OS Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 31st July 1968 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: SALISBURY, RHODESIA
  • Country: Zimbabwe
  • Reuters ID: LVABW1Q6MLKJWSYIDXTT2NWOO08S
  • Story Text: THE LEADER OF THE RHODESIAN REGIME, MR. IAN SMITH, OBTAINED AN OVERWHELMING VOTE OF CONFIDENCE YESTERDAY (MONDAY) FROM THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE RULING RHODESIAN FRONT IN SALISBURY. THE EXECUTIVE ALSO HAMMERED OUT THE BROAD OUTLINES OF SECRET PROPOSALS FOR RHODESIA'S CONSTITUTIONAL FUTURE.

    THE VOTE OF 97 IN FAVOUR OF MR. SMITH, TWO AGAINST AND THREE ABSTENTIONS, AND THE DECISION TO SEND THE CONSTITUTIONAL BLUEPRINT TO THE PARTY RANK AND FILE FOR STUDY, REPRESENTED A POLITICAL TRIUMPH FOR MR. SMITH. IT WAS A STINGING DEFEAT FOR RIGHT-WING OPPONENTS WHO HAVE BEEN PRESSING FOR A CONSTITUTION CONTAINING LESS COMPROMISE THAN MR. SMITH HAS IN MIND. THEY WOULD LESSEN THE AFRICAN MAJORITY'S ALREADY MEAGRE POLITICAL POWERS.

    IT'S REPORTED THAT MR. SMITH TODAY MOVED TO HIS NEXT BIG TASK OF FINDING NEW MEN TO FILL THE GAPS IN HIS DEPLETED "CABINET".
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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