Decolonisation - Rhodesia

Question 1

Where did Mac do his winds of change speech + why?

Answer 1

-Capetown — target white minority regimes rather than colonials who wanted independence
-but white minorities not persuaded — South Africa was seen as a threat + challenge

Question 2

What happened in 1963 with the split in Rhodesia?

Answer 2

-1963 federation Rhodesia + Nyasaland broke into 3 separate entities
-1964 northern Rhodesia -> independent state Zambia
-Nyasaland -> independent state Masaw
-southern Rhodesia hoped independence but Br denied until majority rule replaced political domination by white population

Question 3

What was the political row that blew up over southern Rhodesia?

Answer 3

-Ian Smith became PM
-1965 smith issues unilateral Declaration of Independence without accepting majority rule

Question 4

What was the issue with Smith’s declaration?

Answer 4

-a direct challenge to lab govt
-Wilson hoped reach solution in weeks through oil sanctions or negotiations

Question 5

How did Wilson + Smith attempt to resolve the issues?

Answer 5

-met face to face on HMS tiger off Gibraltar dec 1966
-seemed make progress but smith disavowed everything he said after

Question 6

Why did Wilson frustrations continue throughout 1967?

Answer 6

-oil sanctions had no effect
-too easy for Rhodesia to get supplies through Portuguese colony Mozambique
-South Africa continued trade with Rhodesia

Question 7

When did Wilson + smith meet against to discuss further?

Answer 7

-Meg again HMS Fearless Oct 1968
-smith felt stringer + believed could rely on support from right wing cons
-Wilson diplomacy got nowhere + situation upset commonwealth + lab left
-Br made to look weak