CU Mr Ivor Richard speaking
CU Ian Smith speaking
GV Joshua Nkomo into car
CU Sithole speaking

RICHARD: I'm more optimistic now than when I came to Geneva. If you say, am I confident, obviously there are great problems, and there are great difficulties .But i must say having talked to all the delegations this week, all the elements for a settlement are there. What we want to do here is put them together. I haven't heard anything this week which leads me to believe that settlement is not going to be possible. Indeed, the fact that they're all here to negotiate seriously, not just to use it as a platform, I think it's encouraging, yes".

SMITH: I think it would be wrong of me to say that I'm sure of optimism of success, especially when one considers some of the wild and extravagant statements which have been made by some of the black participants in this conference. Particularly when as far as we are concerned we are unable to deviate from the agreement that was made before we came here.

SITHOLE: I feel that those differences can be settled without resort to violence. What makes it difficult now to sort out our differences is that our political situation is quite abnormal. Normally differences are resolved by the people themselves by electing their own leaders without resorting to violence and I think once we get independence there will be a rallying point where we will be the Government of the country and the people will rally around that and any reconciliation that is to be done would have be to be done about that rallying point which will be an independent Government of the country".

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Background: Rhodesian african Nationalist leader, Bishop Abel Muzorewa, on Wednesday (27 October) accused Rhodesian Prime Minister, Mr. Ian Smith, of perpetrating a giant fraud at the constitutional conference in Geneva while striving to keep power in white hands. Bishop Muzorewa made his statement on the eve of the conference which is due to start on Thursday (28 October). The Chairman of the British sponsored talks, Mr. Ivor Richard, expressed optimism before a meeting with two of the leaders of Rhodesian African nationalists, Mr. Joshua Nkomo and Mr. Robert Mugabe. How was asked whether he was confident the talks would end with agreement
SYNOPSIS: Namely that the conference must take place on he basis of Anglo American proposals, which were put to us, which we accepted. I don't want to appear obstinate or intransigent, simply a question of whether we abide by he agreement or whether we break the agreement and if we break the agreement then I believe we are right back to square one".