Rhodesia: The Shortened Fuse

Ceremonially wigged and gowned, Speaker of the House Arthur Stumbles eased himself into his heavy chair while his symbolic golden mace was laid on the table in front of him. Thus, making up in pomp what it lacks in representation, Rhodesia's white-dominated Parliament was called to order last week for the first time since Prime Minister Ian Smith seized independence.

The decorum was short-lived. Hardly had the session begun when Dr. Ahrn Palley, a balding pediatrician and an independent member from Salisbury, bounced to his feet with a point of order. "Certain Honorable Members in collusion have torn up the...

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