On the Right

New York, June 16—President Carter’s difficulties with the nature and provenance of the Rhodesian Constitution cannot be taken seriously. De facto power in Rhodesia had been held by a white minority since the territory, which comprised native tribes without any sense of nationhood, was settled by white colonialists in the nineteenth century. The whole Rhodesian idea, planted by Henry Kissinger at his historic encounter with Ian Smith in \76, was to evolve toward a bi-racial society which would secure the rights of the minority.

The white Rhodesian formula, which holds out certain guarantees to the minority, does so for a specified period of ten years, after which the constitution can be changed by the will of the majority. Meanwhile the chief executive is black, and 78 per cent of the legislative assembly; and the assembly includes members of more than one political party. In all of Africa there is only one state that approaches the standards of democratic integrity and minority rights written into this constitution. No, what Carter worries about is the reaction within Africa to a lifting of the sanctions. His decision is governed by his concern for “world opinion.”

About the Author

William F. Buckley Jr.

William F. Buckley Jr. founded National Review magazine in 1955.

New York, June 16—President Carter’s difficulties with the nature and provenance of the Rhodesian Constitution cannot be taken seriously. De facto power in Rhodesia had been held by a white minority since the territory, which comprised native tribes without any sense of nationhood, was settled by white colonialists in the nineteenth century. The whole Rhodesian idea, planted by Henry Kissinger at his historic encounter with Ian Smith in \76, was to evolve toward a bi-racial society which would secure the rights of the minority.

The white Rhodesian formula, which holds out certain guarantees to the minority, does so for a specified period of ten years, after which the constitution can be changed by the will of the majority. Meanwhile the chief executive is black, and 78 per cent of the legislative assembly; and the assembly includes members of more than one political party. In all of Africa there is only one state that approaches the standards of democratic integrity and minority rights written into this constitution. No, what Carter worries about is the reaction within Africa to a lifting of the sanctions. His decision is governed by his concern for “world opinion.”