On 11th November some may remember the Unilateral Declaration of Independence by Rhodesia from Great Britain either fondly, with regret or something in between. Each to their own experience. But what led to that event? Why did it happen? Was it avoidable or inevitable? I set out some history leading to 11/11/65. * 1922 - referendum to decide if Rhodesia joined the Union of South Africa. 2:1 voted against the Union. (Was that the best decision?) * 1923 - Southern Rhodesia granted self Government by UK - a unique quasi dominion status within the Commonwealth. UK retained Foreign Affairs and appointed a Governor. The UK could not legislate on Southern Rhodesia unless asked to by the Government of Southern Rhodesia. Under the constitution, all Southern Rhodesians regardless of race could vote if they met certain education and income tests. * 1948 - Ian Smith elected to Parliament in opposition. He spent most of his time farming. * UK assured the then Prime Minister, Huggins, that Southern Rhodesia could claim full dominion status at any time - to be like Canada and Australia. He never asked for it - (was that a mistake?) * UK proposed a Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. The Southern Rhodesian Government elected to support this proposal. * 1953 - after a referendum where Southern Rhodesians elected to join the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, the Federation was formed. (Was that a smart decision?) * Smith was elected as a Federal Member of Parliament. * 1958 - the Federation Constitution was changed to give self Government, no secession allowed, and a conference was to be held in 1960 for the Federation to become a dominion in the Commonwealth. * 1960 - change of view by UK on colonialism. USA against the UK Commonwealth concept. Independence granted to some African colonies. Northern Rhodesian and Nyasaland nationalism erupted. UK Prime Minister, Macmillan delivered winds of change speech in South African Parliament. USSR and Communist China aspirations in Africa encouraged. * 1960 - UK commissioned the Monckton Report on the Federation - recommended permitting succession which marked the death knell for the Federation. * 1961 - Salisbury conference with UK Duncan Sandys, Southern Rhodesian PM, Nkomo and Sithole. A new constitution was agreed upon for Southern Rhodesia and all parties signed the agreement on 7/2/61. The introduction of two voters rolls (A & B) where any Rhodesian black or white could vote but based on differential qualifications (education and income/ assets), Declaration of Rights introduced, UK reserve powers over Southern Rhodesia removed, provisions against discriminatory legislation. The agreement to change the constitution was to go to a referendum. * Within a week of signing the agreement both Nkomo and Sithole reneged - started agitating against it which caused rioting and civil unrest. * At the referendum the electorate were assured that if the Federation dissolved, Southern Rhodesia would be granted independence like what would happen to Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland. * 1962 Southern Rhodesia election under the new constitution. Newly formed Rhodesian Front won 35 of 50 A roll seats, Whiteheads party won the B roll. Nkomo and Sithole boycotted the election. The RF won government with a 5 seat majority. * Field became PM. Smith Deputy PM and Minister of Finance. * 1963 - reneging on the agreements in place, the UK granted succession rights from the Federation to Nyasaland and then Northern Rhodesia and called for a dissolution conference. * Field was assured by UK PM, Macmillan and Butler that UK would honour its obligations to Southern Rhodesia if they attended the conference and agreed to dissolution. Field and his cabinet agreed for Southern Rhodesia to attend the dissolution conference at Victoria Falls if Butler flew to Salisbury first and signed the agreement that Southern Rhodesia would be granted equal rights to independence as Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland. At the last minute Butler advised that due to ill health he would not be able to attend Salisbury conference first but the matter could be dealt with at Victoria Falls conference. Fields agreed. * At the Victoria Falls conference the Federation was dissolved. No agreement to grant Southern Rhodesia equal rights to independence was signed but promises given by Butler to Field and Smith that UK would honour previous undertakings made. * Home replaced MacMillion as conservative UK PM. Smith flew to London in October 1963 to discuss independence - to be told there were conceptual problems with the white dominated Southern Rhodesian parliament, the Organisation of African Unity would only accept Rhodesian independence with a black African government and this matter could cause the break up of the Commonwealth. Smith pointed out that Nkomo and Sithole boycotted the election thus the lack of black Rhodesian politicians in parliament and the 1963 constitution was agreed and signed off by them, the UK parliament and the Southern Rhodesian Government, plus reminding of the promises made at the Victoria Falls conference. * 1964 - Field visited London to negotiate the issue of independence. The problem presented to him was the pending UK election and Homes was not prepared to commit anything before this event, but gave verbal (not in writing) assurances that if they won the election they would meet the Rhodesian requests for independence based on the 1961 constitution. * Zambia and Nyasaland granted independence. Nationalist activity increased in Southern Rhodesia - rioting, murders and burning of schools and other institutions. The Chiefs complained to the Government about the intimidation by Nationalists. * Pressure building in RF for Field to declare UDI. Smith voted to take over as leader and PM. * 29 Chiefs travelled to UK to advocate independence based on the 1961 constitution were ignored by Home and UK Foreign Office. * The UK refused an invitation to Smith to attend the Commonwealth prime ministers conference - first time since 1931. * Smith visited London in September 1964 to meet Home - UK concern was now centred on whether the 1961 constitution had the consent of all Rhodesians. Smith pointed out that Nkomo and Sithole had signed then reneged and then boycotted, there were 3 million plus tribes people with no concept of Westminster democracy and Rhodesia had an intrenched tribal Chief regime. Smith undertook to get consensus within Rhodesia on the acceptability of the 1961 constitution. * A grand Indaba of Chiefs and Headmen was arranged for October 1964 involving 700 people to decide on the peoples acceptance of the constitution and independence. It lasted 5 days. Invitations to UK to send observers were ignored. 8 nations sent observers. The Nationalists orchestrated widespread intimidation and murder. The Chiefs unanimous decision was to support independence based on the 1961 constitution - which predictions were that within 15 years a black majority would potentially dominate parliament. * Labor won and Wilson became UK PM. * Wilson sent message to Smith demanding that there would be no UDI and that Smith should visit UK - Smith declined the invite as there was a referendum due. * A referendum was held with black vote boycotts - but the majority of those who voted endorsed independence based on the existing constitution. * Wilson made it public that the Labor Party opposed independence while that country remained in control of a white minority. Independence would only be on the basis of immediate black majority rule - this meant a new constitution. * Wilson rejected the results of the Chiefs Indaba and the referendum. * Smith visited London for Churchills funeral as specified in Churchills will - otherwise no invite would have come from the UK Government, while all PMs from the Commonwealth were invited. Smith was not invited by the UK Government to the Commonwealth heads lunch at the Palace but the Queen noticed his absence and urgently arranged for him to attend. * The UK government shunned the chiefs on London, but entertained Nkomo and Sithole regarding the latter two as representing the people of Zimbabwe. * 1965 - Smith called an election to confirm his mandate to take Rhodesia to independence based on the 1961 constitution - RF won all 50 A roll seats and 15 black members were elected to parliament led by Josiah Gondo. With that Smith asked UK for granting of independence and failing that being granted that Rhodesia would declare UDI. * In mid 1965 UK sent Bottomley to Salisbury for urgent talks. Smith offered a Senate with a blocking mechanism controlled by black Rhodesians which would prevent any fear that the 1961 Constitution that would lead to a black majority government in time would not be altered. Nothing came back on that offer. * Smith plus 4 went to London in October 1965 to try and break the deadlock - Wilson tabled new demands to change the constitution and the deadlock deepened. Smith told Wilson there was no alternatives to UDI before attending a rugby match at Twickenham. * UK conservative leaders met Smith where Smith agreed to have a treaty which guaranteed no regression of black Rhodesian political rights towards majority rule plus greater commitment to black education and economic advancement. The conservatives took this to Wilson who rejected it. * While Smith was flying back to Rhodesia, Wilson proposed a mission of Commonwealth prime ministers to visit Rhodesia to recommend a solution to the problem. This was rejected. * The UK Government now fearing UDI sent a large delegation to Salisbury - 25th October 1965. Interviews with a wide spectrum of population were carried out by the British to find other than Nkomo and Sithole there was wide support for the Government by black and white Rhodesians. * Wilson proposed a Royal Commission of three - Rhodesian Chief Justice, plus one other eminent Rhodesian and a British representative to investigate and recommend a solution. Smith agreed with Wilsons proposal and that both sides would adhere to the recommendations. * Wilson flew out on 30th October to seek his cabinet approval for this proposal. Bottomley flew to Tanzania and Nigeria to test sentiment. * On 3rd November Wilson responded to Smith with alterations - the UK would not be bound by the recommendations and the Royal Commission would be bound to state that the 1961 constitution was unacceptable to the UK Government and the report would need to be a unanimous. * Smith informed Wilson on the 8th November he was prepared to abide by the original agreement on the Royal Commission and he should inform Smith by the 10th if the UK were prepared to abide with that undertaking. * During the cabinet meeting Smith called to discuss UDI on the morning of 11th November, Wilson called Smith to negotiate the Royal Commission proposal but would not nudge on the amendments to the original agreed terms. No meeting of minds was possible. * After that telephone call Smith asked each member of his cabinet to say yes or no to UDI - all said yes. Chapter 8 of Retribution: Firstly we have to recognise that the British politicians are a bunch of untrustworthy bastards ... said Richard s father when asked to explain UDI to his son. retributionbook Picture is of my Stirling silver Independence Bell - We have struck a blow for the preservation of justice, civilisation and Christianity signed by Ian Smith.
Posted on: Sat, 08 Nov 2014 08:19:32 +0000