76-18-B7
- Main Page \ Reagan Radio Commentaries \ 1977
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Rhodesia
TranscriptThe United States has joined with the Third World voting bloc in the U.N. by imposing sanctions on Rhodesia. Our rationale is that Rhodesia is a nation predominately black, but governed exclusively by a greatly out-numbered white minority. In a sense, this is true but it also ignores the effort being made in Rhodesia to achieve majority rule. The United States and Great Britain in an effort to persuade Rhodesia's Prime Minister Ian Smith to hasten the transfer of government secured his promise to achieve majority rule within two years. He is keeping that promise. In the meantime, however, two black nationalists, both dyed-in-the-wool Marxists, have repudiated the plan which they too had signed. Their terrorist guerrillas have brought bloodshed and death to hundreds of Rhodesians -- mostly blacks. Aligned in what they call "The Patriotic Front" they say they want no orderly peaceful transfer. They want an immediate takeover and the establishment of a Communist government. And for no reason anyone can understand our government appears to support these self-declared leaders who are nothing more than terrorists ambitious for power. One journeys to Moscow for advice, the other to Peking. The cabinet minister whose letters I quoted is a black chief of one of the two principle tribes in Rhodesia. J.S. Chirau is President of the council of chiefs, leader of some 250 chiefs and several hundred headmen. He has resigned from the cabinet to lead the black majority opposition to the guerrillas and it is estimated he has the support of almost two-thirds of Rhodesia's blacks. When I picked up a NEWSWEEK magazine in late July and saw an interview with Chief Chirau, I thought you might be interested in how much more sense he makes than does our Ambassador to the United Nations. The chief had just returned from a visit to London where he had submitted a plan to the British government. NEWSWEEK asked what his plan was. He answered, "A system of black government that would guarantee law and order, preserve our private enterprise economy and keep Zimbabure (the African name for Rhodesia) out of Marxists' hands." Then he outlined a plan for a President with executive powers, two houses of parliament and two provincial assemblies for the two principle tribes, the Mashona and Motabeli. All this would be brought about through free elections with universal suffrage for everyone over 18. Asked about restrictions on candidates, he ruled out only those who refused to renounce terrorism. This, of course, would disqualify Nkomo and Mugabe, the slef-annointed "Patriotic Front", who he said would get less votes than the Communists got in Spain. He added, "If the Marxist terrorists succeed, we will become the victims of the greatest tyranny in history. It would mean the victory of a small handful of people, whose only claim to support is that they possess the majority of rifles, machine guns, mines and mortars -- all made in Russia". Significantly, on a continent where the answer offered to white racism is usually an equally unjust black racism, Mr. Chirau responded to a question about excluding white; saying "Rhodesia could not survive without them (the whites). Their property and rights will be totally guaranteed. But we must act quickly to reverse the white exodus now underway". In the same edition of NEWSWEEK, Rhodesian Prime Minster Ian Smith was interviewed and decalred, "The new government should be made up of the best people we have available -- black and white". When he was asked if a black majority government with white participation was seen to be working did he think he would have our support against the Soviet-backed guerrillas, he said, "I doubt it". He believes we will automatically be on the side of the "Organization of African Unity" which is manipulated by the Soviet Union. Wouldn't it be nice if we could tell him we'd be on the side of decency and common sense for a change? This is Ronald Reagan. Thanks for listening. |
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