admin
The Herald, October 11, 1979
LONDON. – Britain’s Conservative Party yesterday voted overwhelmingly to lift sanctions against Zimbabwe-Rhodesia “as soon as possible “.
The vote came after a tough speech by the Foreign Secretary, Lord Carrington, in defence of his pursuit of an all-party settlement.
Lord Carrington supported the resolution passed by the Tory conference, saying: “I entirely agree that with the progress at the (Zimbabwe Rhodesia) conference, the time to lift the sanctions can’t be too far off.
“Yet we are in the middle of very difficult and important negotiations and it is not possible for me to be more precise until we know the result of the conference.”
The Foreign Secretary said sanctions should not be allowed to continue “once the moral basis has lapsed”.
Dealing with the lead-up to the Zimbabwe Rhodesian conference, Lord Carrington said that if Britain had gone ahead and recognised Bishop Muzorewa’s Government it would have been on its own, and “this would have served no purpose”.
The United States and many African States had said they would not follow suit and there would have been no change in the Zimbabwe-Rhodesian situation, with the war continuing to take its toll.
During an often stormy debate at the Conservative Party’s annual conference in Blackpool, Lord Carrington based his appeal on the grounds that the Zimbabwe Rhodesian peace conference was making progress, and was the best way of ending the war, and ultimately held out the best hope of all of Zimbabwe Rhodesia’s people.
The resolution passed by the Tory conference does not tie Mrs Margaret Thatcher’s Government to any timing for the lifting of sanctions and gives Lord Carrington a free hand in handing the Zimbabwe Rhodesian question.
In the face of sometimes emotional demands by Tory right wingers for immediate recognition of Bishop Muzorewa’s Government, Lord Carrington said recognition without an internationally acceptable settlement would only deliver Zimbabwe Rhodesia from “ostracism into isolation”.
Lord Carrington said any immediate agreement to lift sanctions would risk the collapse of the Zimbabwe Rhodesian peace talks.
To his right-wing critics, he said: “Think what a settlement would mean to the lives and welfare of all the Rhodesian people. Think what it would mean if we threw over the chance of a settlement at this stage.”
He continued: “The problem of Rhodesia has been with us for too long. The people of Rhodesia have suffered the effects of war and the weight of international disapproval. Their neighbours have suffered and their countries bear the scars of war.
“I believe the Government was right to try to get a settlement. I was right even at this 11th hour to seek to get the parties together and was right to get the backing of the Commonwealth, was right to take this chance once and for all of ending the war.”
Lord Carrington was given a standing ovation at the end of his speech by a large section of the Tory conference, including Mrs Thatcher. – Iana
LESSONS FOR TODAY
When you have been dealing with an issue for a long time, you get to a point where you want to make sure that you do not only conclude it, but do so decisively. This was the stage that had been reached by the Tories.
Wars can be very costly in terms of human lives, money to sustain the fighting and also in terms of energy, especially if it drags on.
A settlement at Lancaster House was inevitable because the whites were feeling the heat although they were trying to hold out to get the best deal for their kith and kin.
Guarantees are necessary to influence a decision. The British were ready to lift the sanctions against Zimbabwe Rhodesia, but they needed assurances that the talks will be successful.
Online Reporter