CENSOR-FREE NEWSPAPERS APPEARED ON THE STREETS OF SALISBURY ON SUNDAY (7 APRIL) FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE RHODESIA'S UNILATERAL DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE IN NOVEMBER 1965.

THE MOVE WAS ANNOUNCED ON THE PREVIOUS DAY BY THE LEADER OF THE COUNTRY'S REGIME MR. IAN SMITH AT A CEREMONY GIVING HIM THE FREEDOM OF THE CITY.

MR. SMITH SAID THE REMOVAL OF CENSORSHIP SHOULD BE ANOTHER INDICATION TO THE WORLD THAT RHODESIA HAD WON THE BATTLE FOR HER INDEPENDENCE.

THE SMITH REGIME TRIED IN JANUARY 1967 TO REPLACE OFFICIAL CENSORSHIP WITH A FORM OF VOLUNTARY CENSORSHIP IN WHICH EDITORS WOULD BE ASKED TO SUPPRESS NEWS WHICH COULD THREATEN THE COUNTRY'S SECURITY.

BUT PUBLISHERS AND OWNERS OF NEWSPAPERS, WHICH HAVE PREVIOUSLY APPEARED WITH WHITE SPACES AS EVIDENCE OF STORIES TO WHICH THE CENSORS HAVE OBJECTED, REFUSED TO AGREE ON THE GROUNDS THAT THIS WOULD BE ONEROUS AND NO LESS BINDING.