HC Deb 20 October 1976 vol 917 cc477-8W
25. Mr. Brocklebank-Fowler

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on Rhodesia.

Mr. Crosland

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Shoreham (Mr. Luce) earlier today.

26. Mr. Wall

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of arrangements for the Geneva Conference on Rhodesia.

Mr. Rowlands

My right hon. Friend announced in his statement to the House on Wednesday 12th October that invitations had been extended to Mr. Mugabe, Bishop Muzorewa, Mr. Nkomo and Mr. Smith. As a result of further consultations, my right hon. Friend has now extended an invitation to Rev. Sithole, and has asked him to nominate additional delegates.

Delegations will convene in Geneva from tomorrow, 21st October, and the formal opening will be on Thursday 28th October.

27. Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what repersentations were made by the Minister of State to the Smith regime during his visit to Rhodesia and his discussions with the Smith regime on the trial and sentence of Donal Lamont, Bishop of Umtali.

Mr. Rowlands

I took the opportunity offered by my recent visit to Southern Africa to raise the matter of the trial and sentence of Bishop Lamont with the Rhodesian authorities and to convey to them the feelings of deep concern that exist in Britain about the Bishop's sentence.

Mr. Wall

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements he is making for representatives of the moderate Africans who do not support the guerrillas to be present at the Geneva Conference.

Mr. Rowlands

After extensive consultations my right hon. Friend has invited to the conference in Geneva those whom he believes to be the genuine representatives of a wide spectrum of African opinion.

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