218. Telegram From the Department of State to Multiple Diplomatic Posts1
295254. Kinshaha for Moose. Subject: New British Initiative on Rhodesia. Conakry for Young. Ref: State 294215.2
1. British Prime Minister Callaghan has proposed a new initiative on Rhodesia to assess the current situation there and to determine whether conditions are such that he can call an all-parties meeting early next year. Callaghan called President Carter over the weekend to discuss the proposal and to request US support for the initiative. Department agreed and so advised British Embassy November 20.
2. Initiative will take the form of high-level mission to the Front Line capitals, Lagos, Pretoria, and Salisbury led by Cledwyn Hughes, Chairman of the Parliamentary Labor Party and a personal friend of Callaghan’s, and Sir Antony Duff of the British Foreign Office. They currently plan to begin their tour November 28 in Dar es Salaam. They will then go on to Maputo, Lusaka, Pretoria, Salisbury, Gaborone, Luanda, and Lagos, and then backtrack through the capitals, as necessary, over what they estimate will be a three-four week period. Mission’s primary objective will be to consult with all the parties to the Rhodesian conflict to assess whether conditions are such that Callaghan can personally call an all-parties meeting in London early next year with a reasonable hope that it will be successful. At the same time they will attempt to assure all the parties of continuing US/UK commitment to our policy and our support for the Anglo-American Proposals as the best basis for an acceptable negotiated settlement. They will also seek advice on how to proceed if the Front Line/Nigeria do not believe conditions are present for a potentially successful meeting.
3. For Lusaka: British have requested and we have agreed that Ambassador Low should accompany Hughes and Duff on their tour. If the schedule as presently contemplated holds, this would mean you [Page 646] would have to make arrangements to be in Dar es Salaam on November 28 to link up with British. Please advise if this can be arranged. We will keep you advised on further developments and possible changes in timing.
4. British are sending instructions today to their Ambassador/High Commissioners in Front Line capitals and Lagos to deliver personal messages from Callaghan outlining the purpose and nature of the Hughes mission. Instructions are also being sent for oral presentations to the PF, the Salisbury parties and South Africa. British hope to make these presentations November 22, and have requested that they be made jointly in keeping with our past initiatives on Rhodesia. Since, however, messages are from Callaghan, our participation would be mainly supportive. Therefore, unless you perceive objection, you should coordinate with your UK counterparts to arrange to participate in their approaches. (This would include presentations to ZANU and ZAPU in Maputo and Lusaka, and to SAG and Hawkins in Pretoria.)
5. In light of initiative and mission’s travel plans, Ambassador Young has been asked to delay his contemplated trip to Maputo, Dar es Salaam, and Lusaka until after Hughes mission has had an opportunity for its initial consultations in those three capitals. Department has suggested that Young travel to Dar, Maputo and Lusaka after completion of AAI conference in Khartoum December 1. We have suggested, however that he go ahead as planned with his stop in Lagos later this week before going to Khartoum.
6. Department wishes to express its thanks for the important, useful, and excellent analyses and comments concerning Rhodesia and our next steps there many of the addressees have contributed over the last few days. They were especially welcome since we were at the time in the process of taking stock and planning our next moves. Our proposed first step was to send Ambassador Young and Dick Moose to the three Front Line capitals to get a better feel for the current situation and to help create a better atmosphere for the negotiations. The British initiative came in the middle of and overtook our planning. Your thoughts and suggestions were nevertheless greatly appreciated and in the weeks ahead will provide us with a useful framework for determining where we must concentrate our efforts if a negotiated settlement for Rhodesia is to be reached.
- Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Cables File, State Department Out, Box 114, 11/18–30/78. Confidential; Immediate; Exdis Distribute as Nodis. Sent to Dar es Salaam, Maputo, Lusaka, Pretoria, Gaborone, and Lagos. Sent for information Immediate to London, Kinshasa, and Conakry. Sent for information to the White House. Printed from a copy that was received in the White House Situation Room. Drafted by Schmiel (AF/S); cleared by George Moose (AF/S), Keeley, and Wisner; approved by Christopher. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P840166–1712)↩
- In telegram 294215 to multiple posts, November 20, the Department provided press guidance on Young’s trip to Africa. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D780478–0370)↩