SIR ALBERT MARGAI, PRIME MINISTER OF SIERRA LEONE, WAS KNIGHTED AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE TODAY (WEDNESDAY) BY QUEEN ELIZABETH "IN RECOGNITION OF HIS OUTSTANDING SERVICES TO THE STATE". AS HE LEFT THE PALACE, SIR ALBERT WAS CONGRATULATED BY A CROWD OF WELL-WISHERS -- MOST OF THEM COUNTRYMEN OF HIS WHO ARE NOW LIVING IN LONDON.

THE SIERRA LEONE PRIME MINISTER, IN LONDON FOR THE COMMONWEALTH PRIME MINISTERS' CONFERENCE NEXT WEEK, SAID YESTERDAY HE THOUGHT RHODESIA WOULD BE A "BURNING PROBLEM" AT THE TALKS. HE TOLD A PRESS CONFERENCE THAT THE POSITION OF THAT COUNTRY GAVE "CAUSE FOR GRAVE CONCERN."
(SIR ALBERT MARGAI, AGED 55, BEGAN HIS POLITICAL CAREER IN 1950, WHEN HE WAS ELECTED TO SIERRA LEONE'S LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. HE PLAYED A LEADING PART IN THE NEGOTIATIONS IN LONDON FOR INDEPENDENCE FOR HIS COUNTRY, AND UNDER THE NEW CONSTITUTION HAS HELD THE PORTFOLIOS OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND OF FINANCE. IN ADDITION TO BEING PRIME MINISTER, HE NOW HOLDS THE PORTFOLIOS OF DEVELOPMENT AND DEFENCE.

(THOSE WHO RECEIVE KNIGHTHOODS WILL NO LONGER HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE ACCOLADE BEFORE BEING ENTITLED TO THE PREFIX "SIR." THE LONDON GAZETTE SAID LAST NIGHT THAT QUEEN ELIZABETH WISHED THE PREFIX TO BE ASSUMED IMMEDIATELY THE HONOUR IS ANNOUNCED. IN THE PAST NEW KNIGHTS COULD NOT CORRECTLY USE IT UNTIL THE INVESTITURE CEREMONY.)