Three reels of mute footage of delegates arriving for sessions of the 1976 Geneva Conference on Rhodesia.

(Reel 1) Seen giving statements (at some length) are Ivor Richard, Ian Smith, Joshua Nkomo, Robert Mugabe, Ndabaningi Sithole and Bishop Abel Muzorewa. (Reel 2) Ivor Richard arrives by car at the Palais de Nations and climbs the steps; others seen arriving include Sithole, Nkomo and Smith. Brief shot of assembled press. Delegates in conference room: camera pans around. Various shots of the participants and their aides. After the conference, delegates are seen leaving the building. Ivor Richard makes statement for press. (Reel 3) Delegates arrive for another session - Smith, Sithole, Muzorewa, Mugabe. More statements by Nkomo, Sithole, Muzorewa and Ian Smith (latter interviewed in street). Exterior shot of assembled press horde. Relaxed Mugabe gives interview; Nkomo and Muzorewa also talk.

Notes

Remarks: lack of sound robs the film of much of its value.

Summary: some of the identifications taken from shotsheet. Ivor Richard was the British ambassador to the UN in 1976, and acted as chairman during the Geneva conference. The conference aimed to ratify the Smith/Kissinger agreement which promised joint rule within two years. The first session was on 28th October 1976 and adjourned on 20th December; however, it never reconvened following collapse of the agreement. The sections of film here, although not dated, must have been shot between 28th October and 3rd November, the date that Smith returned to Rhodesia.