No talks with Smith!

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As lan Smith flew off to the USA a group of rightwing peers including former Labour minister Lord George Brown issued a call for him to be allowed a similar visit to Britain.

Whether or not Smith actually comes to Britain is largely irrelevant.

The important point is that even if he doesn't come talks are already taking place between leaders on alt sides while rank and file guerrillas in Zimbabwe and the British labour movement, supposedly represented pletely in the dark.

As the internal settlement agreed by lan Smith seven months ago begins to crumble around his head, the imperialists look even more desperately for another form of negotiated settlement to ensure the preservation of capitalist property relations.

At the UN, Owen pledged himself to issue invitations to an all-party •conference on He went on to add that he hoped that if a settlement could be reached then: UN forces would be sent in to Zimbabwe.

Meanwhile the Smith regime has stepped up its military struggle against the liberation In a recent speech to the Rhodesian Front congress Smith complained that Britain and the US:

.. sit in their houses grinning while ours burn as a result of their uselessness."

He promised that the Rhodesian forces "would hit the guerrillas anywhere."

The black members of his transitional government were now convinced of the need to increase raids into Mozambique and Zambia-"they now want to get stuck in and hammer them,"

said.

But it is clear that the door is still open to further talksespecially with Joshua Nkomo.

Despite his harsh words for the Patriotic Front leaders Smith was at pains to insist to his supporters that it might become necessary to reopen talks.

"We must not bury our: heads in the sand," he said.

It is now clearer than ever that the liberation forces are defeating Smith's army, while over the weekend it was reported that, far from presenting a solid front, Sithole and Muzorewa are at each other's throats.

The only thing which can prevent the Zimbabwe masses from sweeping aside the colonialists is the leadership of the Patriotic Front which, like Smith, combines demagogy with secret talks and compromises.

Those who wish to solidarise with the African masses must