Today in History-September 24
Rhodesian Prime Minister Ian Smith accepted the proposals reluctantly1976: White rule in Rhodesia to end
England have
The Rhodesian Government has agreed to introduce black majority rule to the
country within two years.
Prime Minister Ian Smith announced the news five days after hearing the
proposals of the United States-led diplomatic delegation.
The plan presented to him by US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger had been
formulated by the American and British Governments.
But Mr Smith made it clear he was only accepting the plan under pressure
and was not happy with the conditions.
In a broadcast to the nation from the capital Salisbury, Rhodesia's premier
outlined the first of six steps agreed with Dr Kissinger.
Aninterimgovernment is to be established and the violent guerrilla warfare
being waged by factions of the country's black population must end.
In return international sanctions against the state, which declared its
independence from the United Kingdom 11 years ago, would end.
UK Prime Minister James Callaghan welcomed his counterpart's acceptance of
the proposals, saying it was a decisive step forward.
"It offers a real hope of bringing peace to Rhodesia and of averting the
threat of intensifying warfare and bloodshed," he said.
Despite the hopes of peace Mr Smith announced he was only taking the step
reluctantly.
"I would be dishonest if I did not state quite clearly that the proposals
which were put to us in Pretoria do not represent what in our view would be the
best solution to Rhodesia's problems," he said.
But the prime minister ended his speech by urging his countrymen to make
the agreement work.
"I hope all Rhodesians will join with me in dedicating themselves to ensure
that there can only be one answer - success," he said.
Iraqi soldiers fighting in Iran
1980: Iraq bombs Iran as hostilities increase
Artificially 1969: FilmTheTheAA Iraqi planes have bombed and set on fire
Iran's Kharg Island crude oil export terminal.
Iranian officials have confirmed oil exports from the terminal, off the
north-west coast of Iran, have been halted and given no indication when they may
be resumed.
The fighting began three days ago when the Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein,
ordered a bomb attack against Iran following months of border clashes.
Tension between the two countries has been rising since Ayatollah Ruhollah
Khomeini was hailed the leader of the Islamic revolution in Iran and took
control from Shah Reza Pahlavi in February 1979.
Appeals for an end to the violence from the United Nations Security
Council, the secretariat of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries
and the European Economic Community have all gone unheeded.
The worst fighting has been close to the disputed Shatt al arab waterway,
which forms Iraq's only access to the Persian Gulf.
The strategic Iranian cities of Khorramshahr and Abadan are said to be
holding out against heavy Iraqi pressure, which has been mostly directed at oil
facilities there.
Baghdad is demanding recognition of its sovereignty over the Shatt al arab
waterway, the lower reaches of which also mark the border between Iraq and
Iran.
It has torn up the 1975 Algiers agreement under which Iraq agreed to shift
the border with Iran to the middle of the estuary.
Speaking in Baghdad tonight, Iraq's deputy commander in chief of the armed
forces, General Adnam Khairalla, left no doubt Iraq would extend the war to
achieve its aims, regardless of international or other pressures.
The Foreign Office is advising British ships not to visit Iraqi or Iranian
ports and is also discouraging British citizens from visiting Iraq.
Although no general order has been given for the evacuation of British
subjects from Iraq, many British families have been fleeing the country and the
first have arrived back in the UK today.
Western oil industry officials say there is no immediate threat of a world
shortage because the non-Communist world has about 100-days worth of oil in
stock.
However, there are fears war between the two sides could lead to the
closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow passage which forms the gateway to
the Gulf, through which much of the oil from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and other
smaller states is transported.
Vocabulary:
interim: serving during an intermediate interval of time(临时的)
evacuation: the act of evacuating; leaving a place in an orderly fashion;
especially for protection(撤退)
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