UNITED KINGDOM: BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TO MEET RHODESIAN LEADER IAN SMITH IN GIBRALTAR

Record ID: 337300

  • Title: UNITED KINGDOM: BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TO MEET RHODESIAN LEADER IAN SMITH IN GIBRALTAR
  • Date: 8th October 1968
  • Summary: 1. LV DOWNING STREET 0.05 2. CU No. 10 0.08 3. SCU MR. CLEDWYN HUGHES LEAVES WITH MR. ELWYN (2 SHOTS) 0.15 4. SCU MR. GEORGE THOMPSON LEAVE No. 10 0.22 5. CU CAMERAMEN 0.24 6. LV MR. THOMPSON WALKS AWAY 0.29 7. SCU PAN LORD SHACKLETON LEAVES 0.32 8. CU SPECTATORS 0.34 9. SV MR. HEALEY LEAVES 0.38 Initia
  • Embargoed: 23rd October 1968 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM
  • City:
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Reuters ID: LVA88CR8L57SBPQ7N7E3NL1ZOMBC
  • Story Text: MR. HAROLD WILSON, THE BRITISH PRIME MINISTER IS TO MEET MR. IAN SMITH THE LEADERS OF THE RHODESIAN REGIME IN GIBRALTAR TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY). THE ANNOUNCEMENT CAME AFTER A CABINET MEETING IN DOWNING STREET TODAY (TUESDAY). THE ENCOUNTER WILL TAKE PLACE ON THE ROYAL NAVY ASSAULT SHIP THE "FEARLESS."
    THE OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE GIBRALTAR TALKS WAS MADE SIMULTANEOUSLY IN LONDON AND SALISBURY. THE ANNOUNCEMENT SAID THAT THE TALKS WERE "AIMED AT DISCOVERING WHETHER IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO ARRIVE AT A SETTLEMENT OF THE RHODESIA PROBLEM WHICH WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE TO BOTH SIDES. "WITH MR. WILSON WILL BE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SIR ELWYN JONES, AND MR. GEORGE THOMPSON, THE COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY. MR. SMITH WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY MR LARDNER BURKE AND MR. J.H. HOWMAN RESPECTIVELY MINISTER OF JUSTICE AND MINISTER FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS OF THE RHODESIAN REGIME. SIR HUMPHREY GIBBS, GOVERNOR OF RHODESIA WILL ALSO BE AT THE MEETING.

    THIS IS THEE LATEST BID TO RESOLVE THE NEARLY THREE-YEAR OLD DISPUTE SINCE MR. SMITH PROCLAIMED RHODESIA'S UNILATERAL DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. DURING THE DISPUTE THE ATTITUDE OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO INDEPENDENCE BEFORE MAJORITY RULE (NIMBAR), WHILE THE RHODESIAN HAVE BEEN INSISTING THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD REMAIN IN THE HANDS OF THE WHITE MINORITY.

    ZAMBIA'S PRESIDENT MR. KENNETH KAUNDA WAS INFORMED OF THE MEETING A FEW HOURS BEFORE THEE OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT. HE WAS TOLD BY MR. MAURICE FOLEY, PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY AT THE BRITISH FOREIGN OFFICE. WHEN HE OPENED THE LAST SESSION OF THE ZAMBIAN PARLIAMENT LAST WEEK, PRESIDENT KAUNDA SAID THAT BRITAIN WANTED AN AGREEMENT ON RHODESIA WHICH WOULD AMOUNT TO LEGALISING THE SMITH GOVERNMENT.
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