The Geneva Talks 1976

Following this failure the armed struggle was intensified necessitating a further move to bring the parties to the negotiating table. The weakness of the Rhodesian economy with half the budget allocated for defence and with large numbers of the work force being conscripted or leaving the country, (especially skilled and professional workers) meant Smith was in no position to resist. Within the nationalist movements themselves events of the last two years have shown similar pressures being brought to bear as surrounded the 1974/1975 detente manoeuvres — the attempt being to isolate discredit and destroy the progressive elements and to find a "safe" leadership.