NAIROBI AIRPORT; THOMSON IN LOUNGE; SPEAKING.



TRANSCRIPT: THOMSON: "RHODESIA HAS OF COURSE BEEN THE PRINCIPAL THEME OF MY DISCUSSIONS IN AFRICA. ON THIS I WOULD ONLY SAY THAT WE ARE CONVINCED THAT IT WOULD BE WRONG TOP USE FORCE TO PUT AN END TO THE REBELLION. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAS NO INTENTION OF FIXING ANY SELL-OUT. WE SHALL PERSIST IN THE USE OF ALL PRACTICABLE METHODS TO REACH A PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT. AND I STRESS THAT WE SHALL STAND BY OUR PRINCIPLES AND PLEDGES THAT WE'VE GIVEN. ABOVE ALL, THERE MUST BE UNIMPEDED PROGRESS TOWARDS MAJORITY RULE. WE STAND BY OUR RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE FOUR MILLION AFRICANS IN RHODESIA. THESE ARE OUR ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS IN OUR ENDEAVOURS TO BRING ABOUT AN HONOURABLE SOLUTION OF THIS GRAVE INTERNATIONAL ISSUE."




Initials DHC/VS/MR/LMC



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: BRITISH COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY GEORGE THOMPSON REITERATED IN NAIROBI, KENYA, YESTERDAY (MONDAY) THAT BRITAIN HAD NO INTENTION OF CRUSHING THE SMITH REGIME IN RHODESIA BY FORCE. HE SAID THERE WAS NO CHANCE OF BRITAIN "FIXING A SELL-OUT" ON RHODESIA.

MR THOMPSON WAS SPEAKING AT AN AIRPORT PRESS CONFERENCE AFTER TALKS IN NAIROBI ON RHODESIA WITH KENYAN PRESIDENT JOMO KENYATTA.