THE PRIME MINISTER OF RHODESIA, MR. IAN SMITH, AND OTHER MINISTERS AT THE MEETING.




Initials DE/V/WH/BB



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Background: AFTER BEING POSTPONED TWICE, THE CONGRESS OF RHODESIA'S RULING PARTY, THE RHODESIAN FRONT, OPENED IN SALISBURY YESTERDAY (FRIDAY). SEVEN HUNDRED DELEGATES ATTENDED A LENGTHY SESSION WHICH OPENED EARLY IN THE MORNING AND DID NOT ADJOURN UNTIL LATE EVENING.

MR. SMITH, THE PRIME MINISTER OF RHODESIA, WHO ATTENDED THE MEETING, HAS BEEN UNDER PRESSURE FROM CERTAIN FACTIONS IN HIS PARTY THAT BELIEVE THAT HE SHOULD MAKE NO CONCESSIONS TO BRITAIN OVER THE QUESTION OF INDEPENDENCE FOR THE COUNTRY.

THE SESSION WAS PARTLY CONCERNED WITH CHANGES IN THE PARTY'S CONSTITUTION TO ALLOW A BETTER BALANCE ON THE EXECUTIVE BETWEEN PARLIAMENT MEMBERS AND PARTY OFFICIALS. PARTY PRINCIPLES WERE ALSO DISCUSSED.