§ Q4. Sir Knox Cunninghamasked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement about the latest situation in Rhodesia.
§ Q8. Mr Wallasked the Prime Minister if he will make a further statement on the latest developments in Rhodesia.
§ The Prime MinisterI have nothing to add to the speeches of my right hon. Friend the Commonwealth Secretary and myself in the debate on Rhodesia on 27th March.—[Vol. 761, c. 1662, 1545.]
§ Sir Knox CunninghamSince the Government tell us that there is no moral judgment involved in the recognition of reality—HANSARD, 26th February, column 940—will the Prime Minister face the realities of the situation and get back to trading with Rhodesia?
§ The Prime MinisterI was not aware that it was a policy, even of the hon. and learned Gentleman's party, to support the removal of sanctions at this time. The realities of this situation are that that country is in rebellion and is recognised by no country in the world.
§ Mr. WallSince the Government claim to govern Rhodesia, what action is the Prime Minister taking to alleviate the worst drought in 40 years which is causing widespread suffering in the rural areas?
§ The Prime MinisterThe hon. Gentleman will be aware—he was one of those who criticised it—of the approach I made in 1965, in what was then a serious drought, to the Prime Ministers of Australia and Canada. He will also know that the régime refused to receive any help from us on that occasion, although fortunately on that occasion the rains came very quickly after the decision.
§ Mr. HeathI would have thought that the whole House welcomed the lifting of the Press censorship in Rhodesia and would have hoped that it would become permanent? Would the Prime Minister join in that welcome?
§ The Prime MinisterOf course I welcome the removal of the Press censorship—I never thought that it should have been imposed. I heard very little criticism of it from many of the right hon. Gentleman's hon. Friends while it was in force. I hope that it will now be followed by a very big change on which, as the right hon. Gentleman knows, many independent people have commented, in the régime's conditioning of the news by radio and television.
§ Mr. FauldsWould my right hon. Friend consider, as a matter of some urgency, holding talks with Zambia to draw up new defence arrangements with that country in view of possible incursions by the rebel régime from Southern Rhodesia?
§ The Prime MinisterMy hon. Friend will know that I have been in touch with the President of Zambia with regard to an earlier meeting, but a talk about defence arrangements has not been proposed for the agenda.