RHODESIA CELEBRATES AGAIN

"Rhodesia picked a black man tonight to lower the Union Jack for the last time. Prime Minister Ian Smith watched as the last symbol of British sovereignty in Southern Africa vanished in a sundown ceremony. Drums beat the Retreat. Buglers sounded the Last Post. An African soldier marched to the flagpole in Salisbury's police ground where the Union Jack has flown daily since 1890. Slowly he lowered the flag, folded it, and handed it to a white Rhodesian soldier" - report in The Herald, Melbourne, November 11, 1968.

Few people who have followed the course of Rhodesia's struggle to uphold every principle which made the British people great, could help but feel the poignancy of that moment. It was reflected in another report of the hundreds of Rhodesians who went to the Governor-General's residence and signed the visitors' book, a symbolic act of loyalty to the Monarch of Great Britain. An act quite distinct from any recognition of the present government of Britain today, or even necessarily the personage of the Monarchial institution today; for many Rhodesians point out that the Queen has repudiated them - not only white, but black, as was symbolised when the soldier lowered the Union Jack for the last time.
However the change of flag with its elimination of the Union Jack is a tragedy for civilisation.

The symbolism of the Union Jack goes far beyond the struggle with petty tyrants at Westminster, and its retention would have signified to Mr. Wilson and his fellow international socialists that this flag would fly, and continue to fly, wherever there remained a free assembly of people loyal to those truths contained in the flag of St. George, St. Andrew and St. Patrick; and that no tyrant could destroy those eternal truths.

MR. GEORGE THOMSON IN RHODESIA

Present negotiations between Rhodesia and the Labour Government in Britain are of interest. The initiative has undoubtedly been taken by the Fabians, as is illustrated by two factors. First, the sending of the British Minister, Mr. George Thomson, to Rhodesia at the same time as independence celebrations are taking place. Secondly, his visit coincides with increased demands from the United Nations and the Organisation of African Unity for sanctions against South Africa and Portugal for their refusal to apply sanctions against Rhodesia.

Clearly the British Fabians are realistic enough to know that just as sanctions have failed against Rhodesia, such resolutions are quite meaningless. Therefore, they are desperately hoping for some basis of agreement, which will enable them to keep their foot in the door of those places where Rhodesia's policies are decided, so that in the future they may resume the process of gradual erosion from within. The Fabian technique of socialism by patience and stealth, a little at a time, will have to be re-applied in Rhodesia, as the battle to date has gone against them. They will be happy to salvage what they can and start again.
It is to be hoped that the Rhodesian leaders will remain firm and uncompromising.

PRESIDENT NIXON

"This will be an open Administration, open to new ideas, open to men and women of both parties, open to the critics as well as those who support us", - Mr. Richard Nixon during his victory speech at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel.

Politicians, who start by trying to be all things to all men, usually finish up pleasing no one. Even at this early stage it seems evident that, so far as the general American public are concerned and those millions of people to whom America is a symbol of hope and strength against tyranny it appears that Mr. Nixon will not fulfill too many high hopes.
He is like the man on the tight rope, endeavouring to maintain a balance between forces pulling him two ways. On the one side he has loyalties to those forces, which supported him and have supported the past administrations responsible for the plight of America today. On the other side he has loyalties to those who want to see those policies repudiated.
He cannot satisfy both.

Few people understanding something of the political realities underlying the chaos of America today, with its mounting anarchy, would care to be in Mr. Nixon's shoes. The Congress and Senate remain loaded against him, making him more open to pressure from the old liberal forces. He is not ignorant of the depths of the conspiracy against civilisation, as his experience with Whittaker Chambers and the Hiss case will be indelibly embossed on his memory. Whatever he does or is responsible for, will undoubtedly live with him, no matter how well trained a conscience he may have. He needs the prayers of all thoughtful people.

SOUTH VIETNAM HOLDS THE LINE IN ASIA

"South Vietnam will formally tell the Australian Government today that it has no immediate intention of attending the enlarged peace talks in Paris". - The Australian, November 12.
"If we have to die, then we prefer to die our own Vietnamese way. This is our fight, our fate, our destiny". South Vietnamese Ambassador, Mr. Tran Kim Phuong.

The above words should be written in large capitals and presented to every politician who has advocated appeasement of the Communists. They reflect the same spirit and understanding of what is involved in dealing with the forces ranged against them as the words of Prime Minister Ian Smith when declaring the independence of Rhodesia and the determination of Rhodesians to fight for the right to keep Rhodesia free from the same fate, which had been forced upon many other African countries.
"If we have to get out of the country, we would rather go out fighting than crawling on our hands and knees".

How does the enemy estimate the force contained in a group of completely united men who refuse to compromise? No doubt Mr. Ellsworth Bunker knows. He is reported as saying after his so many frustrating interviews with President Thieu, that the United States would not punish Thieu for his statements and actions: (Review of the News, November 13)

President Thieu had been using the language from which Mr. Phuong took his cue. In a broadcast to the nation he said, "Don't listen to Communist propaganda saying we agreed to talk with the NLF, and that the war is going to end, and that you should throw down your arms and join them. We have said we won't talk with the NLF at Paris, and nobody can force us to do that".

On November 1, President Thieu said, "I have solemnly taken the oath to safeguard our country and serve the interests of the nation and the people. I will never lead the country into a venture that would turn me into a traitor. I believe that our people and our soldiers...would prefer to fight to the last in order that their children might live".

A correspondent to the editorial columns of The Age Melbourne, M.K. McAuliffe, summed up Australia's position if she compromises, as Mr. Bunker wants President Thieu to compromise. "Peace cannot be derived from surrender. Let us get right in or right out. If the latter, we shall be able to live in our shame, eat, drink and be merry during the short period of freedom that will remain for Australia and the U.S.A."

THE NEED TO GIVE

MR. NIXON CONFRONTING COMMUNISM

"The Soviet Union yesterday renewed its offer to begin discussions with the United States on the problems of nuclear disarmament and improving U.S. - Soviet relations". - The Australian, November 8, 1968.

One of the highest pressure points in the international political chess game is the Non Proliferation Treaty. The signing of this treaty by America and the Soviet would indicate the high water mark of America's retreat from political and military independence.
Discussions were interrupted by the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia.

Now that sufficient time has elapsed to allow the pious resolutions condemning the Soviet to have evaporated into thin air, the serious business of forwarding world government and the destruction of national independence can be resumed. It is significant that the above offer from the Soviet Union to America was made by Mr. Kirill Mazurov, the First Deputy Prime Minister in a major policy speech to 6000 elite members of the USSR Communist Party, including the Secretary, Mr. Brezhnev, the Prime Minister Mr. Kosygin and President Podgorny.
During the Presidential campaign Mr. Nixon was often quoted as offering all sorts of new strengths in dealing with the Communists, including regaining the lead in superiority in all types of military offensive and deterrent weapons. However, Nixon also promised that the American Senate would ratify the Non-Proliferation Treaty in January 1969. A treaty, which is the central part of present Soviet foreign policy!

It has been pointed out that the invasion of Czechoslovakia was made successful by the disarming of NATO by American government agencies, the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency and the State Department.
Mr. Johnson on July 1, 1968 made it clear that after the conclusion of the Non-Proliferation Treaty the USSR and USA would enter "into discussions on the limitation and the reduction of both offensive strategic nuclear weapons delivery systems and systems of defence against ballistic missiles".
Mr. Nixon in his campaigning made one of his major points his willingness to discuss disarmament proposals. Mr. Mazurov made his offer on the day Mr. Nixon was elected US President. He knew he was not speaking to an unresponsive audience.

MALAYSIA UNDER ATTACK FROM THE COMMUNISTS

"The Malaysian Government has accused Mao Tse-tung of inspiring attempts to launched armed revolution in Malaysia. At the same time it announced the arrest - in West Malaysia - of 137 members of the outlawed Communist Party". - The Age, Melbourne, November 11.

At a time when Malaysia could not find a market for her rubber the Russians offered to buy all of Malaysia's surplus stocks and production. The West has never understood the Communist theory of economic determination and how through trade the political objectives of Communism can be advanced. World conquest being the objective of all Marxist-Leninists it matters little whether it is achieved by Russians or Chinese.

With the establishment of a Soviet Embassy and trade delegations in Malaysia the ground for subversion and aid for pro-communist forces has undoubtedly been strengthened. No doubt the Malays will receive back the profits of trade in rubber with the Soviet in a form not acceptable to those who saw something of communist terrorism in the fifties. They are now without any prospect of long-term support from Britain.

The urgency of the matter is being driven home to the Malays and in the same report the Deputy Prime Minister, Tun Abdul Razak, said they would consider the suggestion of Thailand government for a meeting of Foreign Ministers of that region in South East Asia to cope with the Communist threat. This is especially important in view of the breakdown of SEATO.

It is ironic that Malaysia should also be worried about a breakdown in relations with the Philippines over Sabah. The Philippines has also recently been subjected to high pressure by Soviet diplomatic visits. At the same time the Communist terror organisation in the Philippines, the Huks, is becoming extremely active again, and political lives there are extremely cheap.

Whether there is any connection between the rise of Communist activity in both the Philippines and Malaysia and the Sabah incident is incidental to the reality that another Vietnam can be launched any time.
It is more likely if another compromise, Korea type peace, is enforced on the South Vietnamese.