IN SALISBURY PREPARATIONS ARE GOING AHEAD FOR A NATIONAL REFERENDUM ON THE COUNTRY'S INDEPENDENCE. THE REFERENDUM IS TO BE HELD A WEEK TODAY (THURSDAY) AND ITS RESULT COULD SIGNIFY THE NEXT MOVES IN THE GROWING CRISIS.

SIR ROY WELENSKY, FORMERLY PRIME MINISTER OF THE CENTRAL AFRICAN FEDERATION (NYASALAND, NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN RHODESIA) HAS CONSIDERABLE INFLUENCE. HE HAS NOT OPPOSED THE REFERENDUM, BUT HAS SPOKEN PUBLICLY AGAINST A UNILATERAL DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.

THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAS ALWAYS MAINTAINED THAT CONSTITUTIONAL CONCESSIONS THAT WOULD REFLECT THE RIGHTS OF THE AFRICAN MAJORITY MUST BE MADE BEFORE THE GRANTING OF INDEPENDENCE.

MR. SMITH, THE RHODESIAN PRIME MINISTER, SAID HE WOULD CONSULT THE ENTIRE COUNTRY ON THE INDEPENDENCE ISSUE. FOR AFRICAN OPINION, HE CALLED THE INDABA -- A MEETING OF CHIEFS AND HEADMEN. THIS MEETING GAVE ITS SUPPORT TO INDEPENDENCE UNDER THE PRESENT GOVERNMENT. FOR NATION-WIDE OPINION, HE IS HOLDING THE REFERENDUM. THE REFERENDUM BALLOT PAPERS ARE BEING SENT TO ALL THOSE PEOPLE WITH THE FRANCHISE, AMOUNTING VERY LARGELY TO THE COUNTRY'S WHITE MINORITY.

THE RESULT OF THE REFERENDUM IS EXPECTED TO BE AN OVERWHELMING "YES" FOR INDEPENDENCE, BUT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT ARE NOT SATISFIED THAT THIS MEANS THE COUNTRY AS A WHOLE WANTS INDEPENDENCE BECAUSE THE AFRICAN MAJORITY DOES NOT HAVE A FAIR SHARE IN THE GOVERNMENT.

THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT, AFTER MR. WILSON'S STERN WARNING ON THE EFFECT OF A UNILATERAL DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, HAVE INVITED MR. SMITH TO LONDON. THEY ARE SEEKING AN EXTENSION OF THE FRANCHISE TO THE AFRICANS.