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67
ACTION AF-18
INFO OCT-01 ADP-00 EUR-25 IO-12 SCA-01 SCS-03 SSO-00
NSCE-00 INRE-00 USIE-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 PM-07 H-02
INR-10 L-03 NSAE-00 NSC-10 PA-03 RSC-01 PRS-01 SS-15
RSR-01 /113 W
--------------------- 030167
O 242020 Z MAY 73 ZFF6
FM AMEMBASSY LUSAKA
TO AMEMBASSY OTTAWA NIACT IMMEDIATE
INFO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8917
C O N F I D E N T I A L LUSAKA 0955
E. O. 11652: GDS
TAGS CASC MOPS, RHBK ZA
SUBJECT: MAY 15 BORDER SHOOTING INCIDENT
REF: OTTAWA 1220
1. CANADIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER REQUESTS FOLLOWING BE
CONVEYED TO EXAFF ASAP.
2. QUOTE: TELEX TO OTT ( MIN) FOR IMMEDIATE DELIVERY
NO. 427 MAY 24.
SUBJECT: MEETING WITH FOREIGN MINISTER
MINISTER OUT OF TOWN TODAY BUT MESSAGE CONVEYED THAT I
REQUESTED MEETING WHICH WAS ARRANGED IMMEDIATELY ON
HIS ARRIVAL IN LUSAKA THIS PM. I WAS ACCOMPANIED BY
MY SECOND SECRETARY.
3. IT WAS EVIDENT THAT MINSTER WAS SHAKEN BY EVENTS.
4. I RELATED TO HIM THE POINTS WHICH WERE MADE IN YOUR TEL
AND STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE WHICH THE CANADIAN GOVT
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ATTACHED TO THIS MATTER. I ALSO EMPHASIZED THE DIFFICULTIES
WHICH WERE CONFRONTING YOU BY THIS LACK OF COMMUNICATION
AND FRANKNESS.
5. I PAID PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE MUTUAL ADVANTAGE OF BOTH
COUNTRIES THAT THIS MATTER BE TREATED WITH THE UTMOST
SERIOUSNESS AND URGENCY AND THAT IT NOT BE ALLOWED TO DAMAGE
OUR PRESENT FRIENDLY RELATIONS. I MADE IT CLEAR THAT THE
COMMUNIQUE WAS NOT SATISFACTORY TO THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT.
I INDICATED WHERE I FELT THE INVESTIGATIONS VARIED WITH
REPORTS WE HAD RECEIVED AND WITH OUR OWN PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE
OF THE AREA.
6. THE MINISTER WAS EMBARRASED BECAUSE HE SAID HE WAS NOT
IN THE COUNTRY ON THE DATE OF THE INCIDENT AND ONLY RETURNED IN
THE LATE AFTERNOON OF THE DAY THE COMMUNIQUE WAS ISSUED -- MAY 18.
7. HE SAID HE MUCH REGRETTED WE HAD NOT BEEN GIVEN PRIOR
NOTICE OF COMMUNIQUE AND THAT HE ACCEPTED FULL RESPONSIBILITY
FOR THIS.
8. MY OWN IMPRESSION IS THAT THE MFA NEVER HAD MUCH TO SAY
RE COMMUNIQUE.
9. BE THAT AS IT MAY, HE STRESSED THAT THEY WERE VIRTUALLY
AT WAR WITH RHODESIA AND GAVE EXAMPLES WHICH WE CAN NOT
DISPUTE, E. G. , LAND MINES AND DEATHS ON THIS SIDE. HE
ADDED IT WAS UNFORTUNATE THAT TWO CANADIANS LOST THEIR LIVES.
10. THE MINISTER EMPHASIZED THAT RHODESIAN FORCES
KNEW THAT ZAMBIA WAS GUARDING THIS AREA YET APPARENTLY
MADE NO ATTEMPT TO DETER THE CANADIANS.
11. HE SAID THAT THE ZAMBIAN GOVERNMENT MUST TAKE INTO
ACCOUNT THE FEELINGS OF THE CANADIAN PEOPLE. HE ADMITTED
ERRORS IN THE COMMUNIQUE AND THAT THEY ARE NOW TRYING TO FIND
THE BEST MEANS OF DEALING WITH THEM. HE WILL DISCUSS MY
REPRESENTATIONS WITH THE PRESIDENT AND OTHER MINISTRIES
INVOLVED AND WILL SEE ME TOMORROW.
12. BEFORE CONCLUDING OUR MEETING I STRESSED ONCE AGAIN THAT
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HE KNEW FULL WELL HOW CANADA HAD STOOD BY
ZAMBIA IN 1966 AND 1973. IT WAS THEREFORE IMPERATIVE THAT
YOU WERE SUPPLIED WITH SUBSTANTIVE AND FULLY SATISFACTORY
STATEMENT IMMEDIATELY.
13. IT WAS EVIDENT TO ME THAT THE MINISTER WAS SYMPATHETIC
TO MY REPRESENTATIONS BUT THAT HE NEEDS THE OPPORTUNITY TO
DISCUSS THIS WITH THE PRESIDENT BEFORE COMMUNICATING
FORMALLY TO US. BROADBRIDGE.
UNQUOTE.
NELSON
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NMAFVVZCZ
*** Current Handling Restrictions *** n/a
*** Current Classification *** CONFIDENTIAL