Rhodesia

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 23 November 1978.

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Photo of Mrs Margaret Thatcher Mrs Margaret Thatcher Leader of HM Official Opposition, Leader of the Conservative Party 12:00, 23 November 1978

Is the Prime Minister aware that we warmly welcome his speedy response to the initiative proposed by my right hon. Friend the Member for Cambridgeshire (Mr. Pym) from this Box? Is he aware that we also welcome his happy choice of the right hon. Member for Anglesey (Mr. Hughes) for this task? We wish him great success in his endeavours. We recognise that his mission is crucially important to Rhodesia—indeed, to the whole future of Southern Africa and perhaps to the balance of power in the West

. Because of the great delicacy of the right hon. Gentleman's task and because of the changing situation in Rhodesia, I shall confine myself to one question. It is better that we await the results of the reconnaissance before detailed cross-examination is made. My question is for clarification.

I understood the Prime Minister to say that the conference that one hopes will follow this mission will be based upon the Anglo-American proposals. The Prime Minister then went on to say that there would be need for compromise. That sounds as if the conference is to be only on the Anglo-American proposals and that it is unlikely that anything else will be considered. I hope that the conference will not be confined to those proposals or, indeed, to a compromise upon them. I hope that the conference will be prepared to consider any proposals which are likely to lead to the successful conclusion of affairs in Rhodesia.