KAUNDA AND WILSON GREET EACH OTHER; THEY ENTER WILSON'S RESIDENCE.




Initials JP/ROTA/CCT/SGM



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THE BRITISH PRIME MINISTER, MR WILSON, AND PRESIDENT KAUNDA OF ZAMBIA HAD THEIR FIRST MEETING IN TWO AND A HALF YEARS TODAY (THURSDAY). THEY MET AT 10 DOWNING STREET, LONDON, TO DISCUSS THE RHODESIA SITUATION.

DR KAUNDA IS SAID TO HAVE ASKED MR WILSON TO COMMIT BRITAIN TO ZAMBIA'S DEFENCE IS SHE WAS ATTACKED BY ANOTHER STATE. THE ZAMBIAN PRESIDENT IS ALSO REPORTED TO BE SEEKING AN ANTI-AIRCRAFT ROCKET SYSTEM AND OTHER MODERN WEAPONRY AS A DETERRENT.

DR KAUNDA CLAIMED RECENTLY THAT ZAMBIAN AIRSPACE HAD BEEN INFRINGED BY RHODESIAN AND PORTUGUESE PLANES.

RELATIONS BETWEEN BRITAIN AND ZAMBIA HAVE BEEN STRAINED FOR A PERIOD. ONE BASIC REASON FOR THIS WAS BRITAIN'S REJECTION OF ZAMBIAN DEMANDS FOR A MILITARY INVASION OF RHODESIA TO RESTORE CONSTITUTIONAL RULE AND OPEN THE WAY FOR EVENTUAL POLITICAL CONTROL BY THE AFRICAN MAJORITY.