RHODESIA - SOUTH AFRICA: STABILITY AMIDST CHAOS

No greater commentary on the moral bankruptcy of all those forces railing against Rhodesia could be found than the news reports of events in the African continent in this past week. From the British Government under the Fabian, Harold Wilson, the U.S.A. government under the career politician, Lyndon Johnson surrounded by similar men to those who control the British Government, to their first cousins running the Moscow machine, all are united against Rhodesia.

The Rhodesians with their stable progressive government and peaceful people, continue to come under fire, while the rest of Africa rapidly becomes enveloped in the flames of revolution, with its accompanying mass murdering, pillaging and general chaos.
It is sheer delusion to postulate that those seizing power today in Uganda Nigeria, Somali, Sudan, Congo, Burundi, Ghana, etc; power which is tearing up the constitutional framework which came with "independence", that these people will be concerned to reverse their policies and endeavour to return to that conception of government which was passed on to them.

President Johnson in condemning Rhodesia this week talked of high principles.
"We will not permit human rights to be restricted in our own country, and we will not support policies abroad which are based on the rule of minorities or the discredited notion that men are unequal before the law."
The Melbourne Age 28.5.66 at the same time he assured President Kaunda of Zambia of U.S. aid. In so doing he was giving assurance to the terrorists and thugs harboured in Zambia that the U.S. would render assistance which would enable them to continue their activities against Rhodesia. He has in effect given such forces the all clear. There was certainly not a word in his speech to the delegates of the Organisation of African Unity that condemned the misrule of organised minorities, where it has occurred in their countries, and where there is no law other than the iron fist of dictatorship, which allows of no appeal other than that of death if the individual should object.

BRITISH GUIANA - NOW GUYANA

DEPOSING CONSTITUTIONAL RULE IN UGANDA

The depicting by the press of the constitutional head of Buganda, Sir Edward Mutesa as a kind of illegitimate despot opposing popular rule, is a familiar story today. Buganda is the largest of four kingdoms within the federated state of Uganda. Dr. Milton Obote who gained power in the manner, which has become traditional in Africa and tore up the constitution, which had been the basis of independence. As we see the situation Dr. Obote in seeking to establish his one party, no opposition, totalitarian government had to overcome the objections of those who constituted the four states, or kingdoms, within Uganda.
It is the same old story of the struggle between decentralised forms of government and the dictator whose objective is complete power.

According to a report in The Australian 30.5.66 there is no doubt that Dr. Obote gets his funds from those sources, which have consistently financed revolutions in Africa. 2,000,000 dollars is the figure mentioned as being the profit made by Dr. Obote and his henchmen from the Congo operation alone. Fortunately for the conspirators the main witness with all the documented proof of their perfidy. David Ocheng secretary of Sir Edward Mutesa's Opposition party, died suddenly. This has let Dr. Obote off the hook and it appears that yet another African state will pass into complete despotism.

HEADLINES ARE DECEPTIVE

Writing from Saigon on the Da Nang rioting, the foreign editor of the Washington "Star", Crosby Noys urged readers to realise that headline news does not reflect a true overall picture of a country. "The impression that Saigon today - or at any time - is a seething cauldron of violence is entirely fanciful," he said. "Anti American demonstrations in Saigon are about as spontaneous as demonstrations at the Republican national convention."

Eric Sevaried, veteran television commentator added to this debunking of the hysterical reaction of sensation mongers.
"A riot in Saigon sounded as though all Saigon was rioting," he said. "Some fighting in Da Nang appeared to be a civil war, but was not." People who witness slanted T.V. documentaries would do well to bear this in mind.

ROBERT KENNEDY AND SOUTH AFRICA

The refusal of the South African Government to issue visas for the herd of thirty odd reporters, who were to accompany Senator Robert Kennedy for his address to the Capetown University, was commended by a former South African Foreign Minister Dr. Eric Louw. Dr. Louw said, "This is largely a publicity stunt, as part of Kennedy's campaign for the presidency and to win the Negro vote. He is the type who could do anything for publicity." "The Australian"27 .5.66

It is not without interest to note that the Fiji Government has taken similar action to stop Dr. J. Cairns, who holds similar left wing views to Senator Kennedy, from addressing the Atomic Explosion Protest Committee meetings in Fiji. The Melbourne Herald 31.5.66 reports that the Governor, Sir Derek Jakeway has declared it "inappropriate for visitors from another country" to take part in these meetings. The Government had no desire to suppress legitimate expressions of concern by Fijians, however groundless but indicated that they draw the line at imported rabble-rousers.

PORTUGESE REVELATIONS

Following the U.N. Security Council's resolution which virtually condemned Portugal for adhering to her proclaimed policy of neutrality in the Rhodesian dispute, the Portuguese Foreign Minister gave a press conference on May 3rd, 1966, which sheds much light on the underhand methods employed by the British Socialist Government, both inside and outside the U.N. Our daily press found it expedient to ignore the statement almost completely.

While the Foreign Ministers statement reflects Portuguese state interests, it is also an important document of contemporary history which gives the reader a glimpse of the intrigues the Wilson Government has resorted to in order to overthrow the Rhodesian Government. The Foreign Minister acknowledges that "down the centuries" the United Kingdom has always fought for the "liberty of navigation on the high seas," Then he observes "at present it refuses to recognise the blockade of Cuba, and British ships carry 60% of supplies to North Vietnam, but the British Government has considered it wise for the Security Council to set up a blockade of our port of Beirra."
The Minister then asks "if this 'principle were accepted how far would it lead?

We recommend those who are sufficiently interested in the important document should write to, The Embassy of Portugal, Canberra A.C.T. and obtain a copy.

PRESS PREDICTIONS AND RHODESIA'S ECONOMY

Six months of wrong predictions by almost every section of the Australian press about Rhodesia's economic chances of survival should have made them more cautious about their predictions by now. As is usual the reality is quite different. While it would be silly to pretend that economic sanctions had no effects on Rhodesia' s economy, it can be said without any fear of contradiction, that Rhodesia's economy is no worse hit than Australia's economy was during the blackest days of World War II.

According to the latest figures direct from Rhodesia, "Rhodesian Commentary 16.5.66 the manufacturing index for February 66 was down 5% in comparison with February 65. Even if it was down 20% temporarily, this would still be a comparatively small sacrifice when the alternative is certain and complete obliteration in both the economic and political sense. However there are signs that the Rhodesian economy is experiencing an upsurge. Rhodesian statistics show that 80 new factories came into being during the first 3 months of this year. Much of which can be explained by the fact that circumstances are forcing the Rhodesian Government to adopt a much more realistic financial policy than is practiced in other parts of the world.

DR. NKRUMAH