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SV Rowlands on right speaking (Schaufele seated on left)
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GV UN building, New York (2 shots)
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SV Crosland speaks
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ROWLANDS: "There's agreement on, first of all there's an agreement on that they, we, should call the conference quickly. That is - wouldn't you say so Bill - we've found everywhere that measure of agreement on the need to call a conference quickly. Secondly there is broad agreement on the objective of the conference which is that to establish an interim government as quickly as possible.



REPORTER: "What about two years?"



ROWLANDS: "The principle of majority rule within two years which was accepted by Mr. Smith.



REPORTER: "But is the two year period itself negotiable or not?



ROWLANDS: "The term is within two years."



REPORTERS: "What do you think the chances ware for a peaceful settlement and a successful resolution of the conference?



ROWLANDS: "I think we have travelled hopefully."



REPORTER: "Are you still hopeful?"



ROWLANDS: "Yes I am personally, yes. We are faced with difficult problems, no one denies the difficulties, but we...on our...the first objective which has been to get our conference off the ground or get the conference off the ground as quickly as possible we certainly think it"'s on course."



CROSLAND: "We must now seize this opportunity to make real progress towards an independent government that will truly represent the peoples of Zimbabwe. Britain, Mr. President will continue to play a constructive role in this. As you will know I have agreed in response to the request of all the parties concerned to convene a conference to discuss the early formation of an interim government. I emphasise that while we're ready to help in whatever way is appropriate we look to the parties concerned, the parties on the spot, to work out for themselves the best means of achieving a rapid transition to independence based firmly on majority rule."



After the news conference to Tuesday (5 October), Mr. Rowlands and Mr. Shcaufele flew to London. The envoys said they had found a considerable measure of agreement in their talks with black African presidents, Rhodesian Nationalists and the white Rhodesian and South African governments as to where such a conference might take place, but they would not reveal where that was. However Reuters News Agency reports that Livingstone in Zambia, Lusaka, the Zambian capital, or Mauritius are believed among the most likely choices.




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Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: British Foreign Office Minister Ted Rowlands and the Untied States Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, Mr. William Schaufele, have been trying to get a conference set up as quickly as possible on an interim government to proceed majority rule in Rhodesia. The tow have so far visited Botswana, Zambia, Tanzania, Mozambique, Rhodesia and South Africa. Mr. Rowlands gave a news conference in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Tuesday (5 October). He was asked if there had been any general areas of agreement between the black and white leaders they had spoken to.

SYNOPSIS: At the United Nations in New York, Britain's Foreign Minister Anthony Crosland commented on the situation since the apparent breakthrough in Rhodesia.