Small world
Sir: Mr Joe Chapman's article (1 December) is a strange hotch-potch of generalisation, exaggeration and lack of logic.
Mr Chapman's thesis seems to be that there will be no 'racial explosion' in Rhodesia (he saw no signs of this on his no doubt fleeting visit) and that if Zambia and Rhodesia are left alone, as he re- commends, they will fade away into obscurity. Mr Chapman's judgments have a splendidly in- cisive ring. He writes of the 'utter precariousness of Zambia,' the absolute dullness of Rhodesia,' of Rhodesia being 'totally cut off from the outside world,' Zambia 'heading fast for tom/ obscurity' (my italics). What confidence it takes to write like this!
Mr Chapman thinks he has hit on a telling point when he writes that there are actually a few Africans in Rhodesia who are richer than, the poorest Europeans. This amazing fact leads him to the dubious conclusion that these Africans (plus the mixed community) constitute a buffer against racial conflict.
It is very kind of Mr Chapman to feel sorry for the Zambians 'in their dilemma.' Unfortunately he never states what 'their dilenima is. Perhaps he is ,,ferring to their slide into obscurity. But surely it is a little unfair to add, with reference to Presi- dent Kaunda's belief in Mr Wilson's promises, that 'if he chose to put so much faith in the British Labour party, then the fault is at least as much his own as it is of the British Labour party.' Is this supposed to be funny?
Mr Chapman is to be congratulated on con- structing an amusing fantasy but it appears unfor- tunately that he intended to write a serious factual article.
D. M. Llewellyn Smith PO Box 2, Kalomo, Zambia
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