Lord CHELWOODasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will give an assurance that the views of a wide and influential section of White opinion in Rhodesia now represented by co-operation between the Rhodesia Party, the Centre Party and the National Pledge Association will be taken into account in the constitutional negotiations; and whether they will invite a spokesman from his group to attend future meetings.
§ The MINISTER of STATE, FOREIGN and COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (Lord Goronwy-Roberts)Following Mr. Smith's speech of 24th January, in which he rejected Her Majesty's Government's suggestions for a transitional Government in Rhodesia, the prospects for a negotiated settlement are bleak. I can certainly give an assurance, however, that, if negotiations can be resumed, the views of Mr. Smith's opponents in the European community will continue to be taken into account.