Papers of James Lemkin

Correspondence and memoranda concerning Southern Rhodesian detainees and Northern Rhodesian Constitutional developments.
Items include the minutes of the London-based Northern Rhodesian Committee which lobbied for a withdrawal of the constitutional proposals, also related correspondence and memoranda from Christopher Chataway MP, Jeremy Thorpe MP, James Callaghan MP, Hon. David Astor, Humphry Berkeley MP, and (Sir) John Moffat, leader of the Northern Rhodesia Liberal Party.
Papers relating to the Human Rights Advisory Service include the committee minutes from 22nd November 1965 to 19th October 1966, as well as notes on individual detainees. Another file contains memoranda on Rhodesia directed to British politicians by James Lemkin, James Chikerema (Zimbabwe African National Union), and others 1964-1969.

James Lemkin was one of a number of Bow Group Conservatives who opposed the British Government's constitutional proposals of June 1961 for Northern Rhodesia. They agreed with Zambian nationalists that the proposals would ensure an effective retention of political authority by the country's 25,000 white voters. Four years later, Lemkin helped to set up in London the Rhodesia Committee of the Human Rights Advisory Service, which raised funds for the defence of Rhodesian political prisoners.

File 1: Southern Rhodesia, constitution.
File 2: Human Rights Advisory Service, Rhodesia Committee, 1965-66.
File 3: Northern Rhodesia, constitution etc.
File 4: Committee on Northern Rhodesia.
File 5: Africa; the Commonwealth.

Records are open to the public, subject to the overriding provisions of relevant legislation, including data protection laws.

James Lemkin was one of a number of Bow Group Conservatives who opposed the British Government's constitutional proposals of June 1961 for Northern Rhodesia. They agreed with Zambian nationalists that the proposals would ensure an effective retention of political authority by the country's 25,000 white voters. Four years later, Lemkin helped to set up in London the Rhodesia Committee of the Human Rights Advisory Service, which raised funds for the defence of Rhodesian political prisoners.

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Published

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