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I would be dishonest if I did not state quite clearly that the proposals which were put to us in Pretoria do not represent what in our view would be the best solution to Rhodesia's problems.

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Notes from Wikiquote

Statement (September 24, 1976) on negotiations in South Africa which proposed a phased transition to majority rule.

More quotes by Ian Smith

All the soul of man is resolution, which in valiant men falters never, until their last breath.

Pushing people forward simply because of their colour, irrespective of merit, would be most unfortunate and would of course lead to disaster. It would mean that Rhodesia would then develop into a kind of banana republic where the country would in no time be bankrupt.

I am satisfied it has strengthened my hand tremendously. Nobody but a fool would disregard the kind of result we witnessed today.

Let me say it again. I don't believe in black majority rule ever in Rhodesia—not in a thousand years. I repeat that I believe in blacks and whites working together. If one day it is white and the next day it is black, I believe we have failed and it will be a disaster for Rhodesia.

We had the highest standard of health and education and housing for our black people than any other country on the African continent. That was what Rhodesians did. I wonder if we shouldn't be given credit for doing that.

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Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Ian Smith (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.