RHODESIA UNDER THE COMMUNIST SIEGE

The reality of the Rhodesian situation is emerging clearly for all to see. On November 21st Cuba formally pledged unconditional support to Mozambique for the "heroic struggle of the Mozambique people against the attacks by the racist forces of the illegal regime in Southern Rhodesia." This announcement was made by Radio Maputo to coincide with the arrival in the Mozambique capital of a top level Cuban delegation led by Mr. Rui Valdovive, a member of Castro's Communist Party's Central Committee.

Once the West stood passively by and permitted the Soviet strategists to use Cuban troops to seize control of Angola, the way was opened for the Soviet backed Cubans to move into Mozambique, to back the mounting campaign against embattled Rhodesia. The Cubans have been invited in by their fellow Marxist, President Machel. This is the man who has been subsidised by the West, including the "anti-Communist" Governments of Australia and New Zealand, to make good his losses as a result of closing the border with Rhodesia and halting all transport.

If the Communists in Mozambique have a sense of humour, they must surely roar their heads off in laughter, as they think of the aid, not only financial and economic but also political and diplomatic, from the Fraser and Muldoon Governments. Or perhaps they are pleased to regard with contempt the apparent confirmation of Lenin's famous teaching that the "decadent" capitalists could be relied upon to provide the rope for their own hanging.

There has never been any secret about the Soviet strategy concerning Southern Africa. The ultimate objective is to collapse South Africa and cut the free world's major sea route, thus effectively controlling the movement of vital oil supplies. But in the face of the Soviet challenge, the West increases pressure on the Rhodesian Government to accept something called "majority rule".

Prime Minister Ian Smith says that Dr. Kissinger assured him that if he were prepared to accept "majority rule", the U.S.A. would ensure that the Rhodesians were supplied with necessary military equipment if Rhodesia came under increased military pressure. The American State Department, predictably, denies that any such assurance was given, while at Geneva the British Government's conference chairman, Mr. I. Richards, has proceeded as if the agreement between Ian Smith and Kissinger had never been made.
The Smith Government's capitulation to the Kissinger pressure has merely resulted in the Soviet intensifying its pressure.

Western intelligence reports reveal that up to 200 Army and Air Force Cuban advisers are now attached to the Mozambique Government and are believed to be training African terrorists. Sophisticated Soviet weapons are being poured in. The supporting Mozambique forces have some MiG jets and Soviet tanks. With the Mozambique radio constantly claiming that Rhodesian troops are mounting further "invasions", it is clear that the Communists are working to create a war fever as a preliminary to massive assaults on Rhodesia.

Speaking from Plains, Georgia, where he was briefing President elect, Mr. Jimmy Carter, Dr. Kissinger said that there was no possibility that the U.S.A. would sell arms to Rhodesia if the talks in Geneva broke down. Dr. Kissinger is in essence telling the Soviet and the Cubans that they can proceed to destroy Rhodesia. If the West permits this to happen, it will be another black mark of disgrace. And it will be another act of suicide.

How long the Rhodesians can now hold on depends upon South African and Western public opinion. The time has come for Australians to engage in some straight talking with their elected representatives.

WAGE-AWARD AND CONTINUING INFLATION

Rejecting both the A.C.T.U. case and that of the Government, the Arbitration Commission awarded a 2.2% wage rise to compensate for the increase in the Consumer Price Index for the September quarter. Federal Treasurer Lynch is unhappy, claiming that the wage increase "is a set back in the fight against inflation...."

The Arbitration Commission rejects the wishful thinking by the Government concerning alleged signs of improvement in the state of the nation. It says, "There may be some slight improvement, but it is difficult to be optimistic about the economy as a whole.... The rural industry continued to worsen. Unemployment and the rate of inflation are of grave concern. Consumer spending has not increased and consumer confidence is lacking."

What is desperately needed before much more damage is done to the nation, is a genuine increase in consumer purchasing power, to enable people to purchase what the production system so easily provide. The increase in wages will not achieve this objective. The national wage bill will be increased by nearly $900 million. This will require expansion of the nation's credit, which will be issued as loans by the banking system in the normal manner. Not only will the $900 million have to be recovered by employers through higher prices, but there will be the big interest bill resulting from the high interest rates set by the Canberra "experts". This will also have to be recovered, if possible through the price system.

As the Arbitration Commission does not make financial policy, it is forced to do the best possible within the framework of results produced by a policy, which is the responsibility of the Government. Clearly Mr. Lynch and his "advisers" have no answers whatever to a rapidly worsening situation. A draft on the national credit to permit $900 million to be taken off Sales Tax would be a major first step in the right direction. If $900 million can be created to finance continuing inflation, then surely it is only commonsense that the same credit could be provided to reverse inflation.

BRIEF COMMENTS

The United States has agreed not to veto the admission of Angola as the 146th U.N. member. This would be a Dr. Kissinger policy. The seating of Angola will be another Soviet vote in the United Nations. Although the M.P.L.A. Government in Angola only maintains a precarious grip on Angola with the use of Cuban troops equipped by the Soviet Union, it is recognised by the Fraser "anti-Communist" Government. Government Members should be urged to oppose this type of suicidal madness.

"America, Germany and Japan virtually have inflation licked." This misleading assertion is made by a columnist in the National Civic Council journal, "News Weekly". It is mathematically impossible to "lick" inflation under present financial rules. America, Germany and Japan have temporarily reduced the rate of inflation by increasing unemployment and destroying large numbers of business organisations. President elect Jimmy Carter has already told Americans that they will have to "tolerate" continuing high unemployment for the first few years of his administration "in order to avoid a new surge of inflation."

The massive vote for the separatist party at the recent Provincial elections in Quebec, Canada, was basically a protest vote against the destructive financial policies of the Trudeau Government at Ottawa. As centralised pressure is applied in all Federations, the natural reaction is a movement of revolt by the members of these Federations. Premier Bjelke-Petersen has recently sounded a warning that Queensland and Western Australia may be compelled to secede from the Commonwealth of Australia. The Scottish Nationalist movement, now a major force in the politics of the United Kingdom, has gone beyond their original demands for a Federal system and wishes Scotland to become an independent nation again. The shock vote in Quebec is a clear indication of growing convulsions everywhere as centralist policies are pursued.