University of Virginia Library

Prime Minister Smith

Reprinted from the Virginia Law Weekly

We hope that State Department Press
Officer Robert J. McCloskey's preliminary
response regarding the Student Legal
Forum's invitation to Rhodesian Prime
Minister Ian Smith will not be solidified
into a permanent policy. If that ultimately
becomes the United States position, the result
will be the informal application of a very
effective "gag-law."

There appear to be several somewhat
glaring inconsistencies in the State Department's
initial reaction. Previously, a number
of native Rhodesian students were permitted
to enter the United States on Rhodesian
passports. There is also more than a little
difficulty in resolving this apparent
concession to Great Britain, while she continues
to allow her ships to ply the harbor
of Haiphong.

We doubt that Ho Chi Minh would be
prevented from entering the United States
if he really desired to come. It is hard to
reconcile this treatment with the present
decision regarding the head of state of a
non-belligerent nation.

It would appear that common courtesy
requires that the head of state of a de
facto government be given at least the same
freedom of entry as has been previously
accorded to students of one of that nation's
universities. Such a forum would, it is
true, provide Mr. Smith with an opportunity
to propagate his point of view; but it would
also subject him to intense questioning of
his government's policies.

Senators Byrd and Kennedy are certainly
to be commended for their efforts to remove
any barriers which deny Prime Minister
Smith the opportunity to speak in this
country.

We hope that upon more considered reflection
the State Department will revise this
decision.