Unilateral Independence in Southern Rhodesia
| Published date | 01 December 1964 |
| Author | Douglas G. Anglin |
| Date | 01 December 1964 |
| DOI | 10.1177/002070206401900408 |
| Subject Matter | Notes and Comment |
Douglas
G.
Anglin,
Carleton
University*
Unilateral
Independence
in
Southern
Rhodesia
Prime
Minister
Ian
Smith's
recent visit to
London
has
removed
the
immediate
threat
of
an
early unilateral
declaration
of independence
in
Southern
Rhodesia.
Nevertheless,
it
is
virtually
certain
that
the
last
has
not
been
heard
of
the
idea.
The
Prime
Minister has
rashly
held
out
the
hope
of
"independence
by
Christmas
1964".
Yet,
when
it
becomes
apparent
that
this
is
impossible,
and
indeed
that
the
prospects
of
negotiating
independence
from
Britain
on
any
terms
acceptable
to
Southern
Rhodesia's
European
population
are
as
remote
as ever,
there
is
bound
to
be
a
sharp
reaction
in
Salisbury.
As
a
result,
the
inevitable
crisis
may
be
all the
greater
for
having
been
postponed.
If
Rhodesia
does
take
the fateful
step
of
seizing
its
independence,
it
will
be
the
best
advertised
revolution in
history.
At
least,
no
one
will
be
able
to
claim
that
there
has
not
been
ample
advance
warning.
Nor
will
the
Rhodesian
Front
government
in
Salisbury
be
entitled
to
complain
of
the
disastrous
consequences.
It
too
has
been
solemnly
warned.
I
Independence
has
been
an
issue
in
Southern
Rhodesia
for
over
forty
years.
Following
the
first
world
war,
the
European
electorate
rejected
independence
through
union
with
South
Africa
and, instead,
accepted
a
constitution
which
in
law
and
even more
in
practice
accorded
the
colony
almost
complete
internal
self-government.
Throughout
the
interwar
period,
it
was assumed in
London
as
much
as
in
Salisbury
that
it
was
only
a
matter
of
time
before
Southern
Rhodesia
had
the
(Euro-
pean)
population
and
the
economic
resources
to
join
the
ranks
of
the
White
Dominions.
With
this
in
mind,
the
"self-governing
colony"
acquired
a
privileged
status
within the
Commonwealth
granted
to
no
other
British
dependency.
In retrospect,
it
appears
probable
that,
if
during
the
mid-forties
Southern
Rhodesia
had
pressed
for
dominion
status,
there
would
have
been
little
if
any
opposition
to
it
in
London
or
elsewhere.
But
Southern
Rhodesians
were
in
no
rush
to
achieve
full
statehood, and
later
when
their interest
in
it
quickened,
negotiations
had
already
begun
on
federation.
Most
Southern
Rhodesian
whites
are
now
convinced
that
they
would
have
had
independence on
their
own
terms
before Ghana
did
in
1957
if they
had not
voted
for
federation
with
Northern
Rhodesia
and
Nyasaland in
1953--and
they
may
well
be
right.
Yet,
in accepting
this
postponement of
their
independence,
they
had
no
intention
of
foregoing
it
entirely.
Indeed,
"full
membership of
the
Commonwealth"
was
one
of
the
principal
declared aims
of
the
Federation.
It
was
confidently
expected
that
this
would
be
achieved
in
1960
when
the
constitution
*
Professor
Anglin
has
recently
returned
from
an
extended
stay
In
Salisbury.
He
had
previously visited
Southern
Rhodesia in
1963
and
1962.
His
article
was
completed
In
mid-September.
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