§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the illegal Smith régime in Rhodesia has broken off all allegiance to the British Crown and as from April will declare itself a Republic; and whether he will now withdraw all offers of a settlement with this illegal regime and give an assurance that only a new regime owing declared allegiance to the Crown will be allowed to negotiate any settlement with Her Majesty's Government.
§ The Prime MinisterI am aware that the illegal regime in Rhodesia will shortly purport to assume a republican status. On the subject of a negotiated settlement, I have nothing to add to what my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State 303W for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs said in the House on 16th October.—[Vol. 788, c. 618–20.]