§ 1. Mr. Luceasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what issues he discussed with the President and Foreign Minister of Tanzania during the recent State visit.
§ The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. David Ennals)My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend and I, in talks with President Nyerere and his Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Kaduma, discussed relations between the United Kingdom and Tanzania, but we concentrated our attention on the problems of Rhodesia, Angola and Namibia.
§ Mr. LuceIn welcoming the recent State visit by the President of Tanzania, may I ask the Minister of State to say whether in discussing Rhodesia he impressed upon the President the importance that the British people attach to the rôle that he and the leaders of Zambia, Mozambique and Botswana are playing in influencing the Rhodesian African leaders towards a common approach to a peaceful settlement? Did the President accept that the alternative of violence would be catastrophic for African and European alike?
§ Mr. EnnalsYes, we had a very full discussion with President Nyerere about the situation in Rhodesia, and we exchanged views on our impressions. I think that there is a great deal of concern among the four Presidents about the split between the different ranks of the ANC, and I think that they would wish 822 to use their influence to bring them together. I think that President Nyerere sees very clearly the dangers of an armed struggle, but certainly at the moment he is not optimistic about the prospects of a peaceful settlement through negotiation.