The Rhodesia Settlement
Secret—UK Eyes A
Diplomatic Report 185/81 PART I
THE RHODESIA SETTLEMENT—PERSONAL COMMENTARY 1. The attached papers provide a history of the negotiations leading to the Rhodesia settlement. The following is a personal commentary. 2. In the early months of 1979 the chances for a negotiated settlement could hardly have looked worse. The Anglo-American proposals had run into fundamental objections from both sides. The requirement that the future Zimbabwe National Army should be ‘based on the liberation forces’ had deprived them of any chance of being accepted by the Salisbury parties and therefore of ever being implemented. President Carter had been talked into a commitment to this effect by President Nyerere. The Rhodesian authorities were not ready to accept a British Commissioner or a UN force. The Patriotic Front insisted that they must have a dominant role in any transitional administration, which must be based on their forces. Various adjustments were made to the Anglo-American proposals in an attempt to render them more acceptable to the Patriotic Front; but it was the Salisbury Government who were required to surrender power. The impression had been created that the British and American Governments would somehow know how to deliver the internal parties. Expectations were aroused that the proposals actually would be implemented. When it became apparent that they would not, African leaders understandably lost interest in them—except to the extent that they inhibited the British and American Governments from giving any encouragement to the internal settlement. 3. The prospects for direct negotiations did not look any more encouraging. Mr Smith’s attempt in August 1978 to do a deal with Mr Nkomo was denounced by President Nyerere. Mr Nkomo, then as later, was fearful of entering into an agreement without Mr Mugabe. The possibility of further direct talks was destroyed by the shooting down of the Air Rhodesia Viscount at Kariba in September. Lord Cledwyn-Hughes had concluded that a conference at this time would have no chance of success. The Patriotic Front were convinced that they could achieve their aims by continuing the war. The Salisbury parties were determined to proceed with the internal settlement. 4. With the decline in the fortunes of Mr Smith, General Walls’ role had become crucial. He did not see how our plans for an internationally supervised election could work. A UN force would not be able to cope 22
