Foreign Relations of the United States, 1977–1980, Volume XVI, Southern Africa

146. Memorandum From Acting Secretary of State Christopher to President Carter¹

Washington, April 2, 1977

Southern Africa Situation: Dr. Owen’s Brief. The British have given us a draft of Dr. Owen’s plan² for his April mission to Africa and a new try at a Rhodesian settlement. Owen proposes trying to reconvene the parties to begin negotiating an independence constitution for Rhodesia. If Owen obtains agreement during his mission,³ the British plan would include a preliminary conference in Vienna early this summer, followed by a full-fledged constitutional conference in London, elections in Rhodesia before the end of 1977, and independence by March 1978.

The Owen plan assumes Smith might not agree to join the process. In that event, the British would assemble the nationalists and, with our backing, seek Rhodesian acceptance at a later date. The British count on heavy American support and even co-sponsorship of the negotiating process. They hope we would carry a substantive share of the costs and contribute to the financing of an interim administration which would lead Rhodesia during elections. The Owen proposal also foresees the possibility of peacekeeping forces.

Yesterday in London, the Prime Minister told Cy that neither he nor the Cabinet had yet approved the Owen plan, and wanted to have the U.S. reaction.

[Omitted here is material unrelated to Rhodesia.]

1. Source: Carter Library, Plains File, Subject File, Box 37, State Department Evening Reports, 4/77. Secret. Carter wrote in the left-hand margin on the first page: “I don’t yet know what we want. We’re floundering still.”
2. See footnote 2, Document 145.
3. In telegram 5825 from London, April 7, the Embassy reported on Muzorewa’s negative reaction to Owen’s brief. In telegram 5880 from London, April 11, the Embassy reported on Nkomo’s negative reaction. In telegram 1485 from Dar es Salaam, April 11, the Embassy reported Mugabe’s negative reaction. In telegram 1497 from Dar es Salaam, April 12, the Embassy reported that Nyerere agreed with the Owen proposal, but questioned the desirability of formal U.S. participation in a constitutional conference. (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Country File, Box 76, United Kingdom: 4–6/77)