162. Memorandum From Secretary of State Vance to President Carter 1

1. Rhodesian Negotiations: The latest developments relating to our Rhodesian settlement efforts are not good.

—The Anglo-American Consultative Group got little satisfaction from its July 7 Lusaka meeting with Nkomo.2 Nkomo did not, as he had promised, present the Group with the Patriotic Front’s constitutional or transitional proposals. Nkomo appeared to be insisting that negotiations henceforth be conducted among the Patriotic Front, Smith and the British, thus brushing aside a future role for the Consultative Group and excluding Nkomo’s competitors, Sithole and Muzorewa. Nkomo argued for Patriotic Front civil and military control of Rhodesia during the interim period, after Smith’s surrender. He expressed interest in the possibility of a Commonwealth peacekeeping force and did note the desirability of elections during the transitional period.3

Smith set the stage for the Consultative Group’s meetings in Salisbury by vowing never to hand Rhodesia over to the Patriotic Front and by welcoming the proposed return to Rhodesia of Sithole.4 Smith’s statements raise the possibility again of a move toward an internal settlement, involving Sithole and perhaps Muzorewa.

—Zambian Foreign Minister Mwale returned from the OAU summit flushed with what he regarded as the success of that organization’s endorsement of the Patriotic Front. He told the Consultative Group not to count on Zambian support to push through a settlement based on a negotiated constitution.5

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Mwale may not reflect the exact views of Kaunda, and both Smith and Nkomo may be engaging in public posturing to impress each other and their respective allies. The Consultative Group, which includes our Ambassador to Zambia, has gone to Salisbury and will return to Lusaka. Subject to the results of the rest of the trip, we think our future course should be for the Group to close out this round in London and work out a package which I can discuss when David Owen comes here later in July.

[Omitted here is material unrelated to Rhodesia.]

  1. Source: Carter Library, Plains File, Subject File, Box 37, State Department Evening Reports, 7/77. Secret. Carter initialed the memorandum and wrote “Cy” at the top of the first page.
  2. In telegram 1917 from Lusaka, July 7, the Embassy reported on the Consultative Group’s meeting with Nkomo. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D770241–0594) Carter wrote in the right-hand margin next to this sentence and the previous paragraph: “We must publicly espouse early elections. I favor also Cwealth peacekeeping force—we should not let Patriotic Front veto everything.”
  3. Carter wrote in the right-hand margin next to this sentence: “Good. My guess is that Nkomo would lose.”
  4. In telegram 3325 from Pretoria, July 7, the Embassy reported on Smith’s July 6 news conference in which he declared that “there could be no hand-over to the Patriotic Front ‘at any cost.’” Smith said his government was “willing to work with Ndabaningi Sithole as it was obvious that Sithole had had a change of heart and wanted a peaceful settlement.” (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D770241–0586)
  5. In telegram 1918 from Lusaka, July 7, the Embassy reported on the Consultative Group’s meeting with Mwale. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D770241–0602)