§ Q4. Mr. Elystan Morganasked the Prime Minister if he will seek to convene, at an early date, a Commonwealth Conference to consider the Rhodesian situation; and if he will make every effort to have Mr. Sithole and Mr. Nkomo attend the said Conference.
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. We are already in the closest touch with other 1136 Commonwealth countries on Rhodesia and I do not think that an early Conference is needed.
§ Mr. MorganDoes my right hon. Friend not agree that only a settlement which is manifestly acceptable both to African opinion in Rhodesia and to the whole of the Commonwealth can have any lasting validity for Africa, and that the calling of a fresh conference is a pre-condition to such a situation?
§ The Prime MinisterIt is because I realise this that we took the Commonwealth Conference on this question so seriously, and it is for the same reason that we have insisted on standing by the principles laid down in this House. I do not think it is time to call a fresh conference at this point.
§ Mr. Gwynfor EvansOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Might the attention of the House be drawn to the fact that the hon. Member who asked the Question is not the hon. Member for Carmarthen?
§ Mr. DoughtyWhatever be the rights and wrongs of this tragic dispute, has not the time come, in view of our financial situation, not to put a burden of more than £100 million a year on the Treasury by continuing sanctions?
§ The Prime MinisterThe economic consequences to Britain in trade with Rhodesia, if one allows for the fact that we have greatly increased our trade with other Commonwealth countries, are nothing like £100 million. The direct effect of trade between Rhodesia and other Central African countries is about £30 million and about £10 million through the increased cost of buying tobacco elsewhere.