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Throughout the period of its UDI (1965-1979), Rhodesia pursued a foreign policy of attempting to secure recognition for itself as an independent country while still retaining its political system of 'gradual steps to majority rule' and its free-enterprise economy. Being ardently anti-communist, Rhodesia presented itself as a front-line state against communist expansion in Africa, and tried to show the international community that there was a place in Africa for the country that Rhodesia was trying to be. The Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) of Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) was signed on November 11, 1965 by the white minority regime of Ian Smith, whose Rhodesian Front party opposed rushed moves by the United Kingdom towards black majority rule in the then British colony. ... National motto: Sit Nomine Digna (Latin: May she be worthy of the name} Official language English Capital Salisbury Political system Parliamentary system Form of government Republic - Last President John Wrathall - Prime Minister Ian Smith Area  - Total  - % water 390 580 km² 1% Population  - 1978 est. ...

This 'evolutionary' policy of getting Black majority rule and rejecting rushed moves that would play into the hands of the Communist bloc was seen to be essential if Rhodesia was to retain its economic prosperity, and great pains were taken to inform the international community of this rationale. However, during the 1960s, the attitude towards colonies in Africa by any European power was regarded as perpetuating racism. This hastened countries like Great Britain, France, and Belgium to drop their colonial possessions throughout Africa.

Rhodesia also pushed a policy of striking beyond its borders in countries where anti-Rhodesian guerilla organizations were based. This was part of its overall anti-communist policies as these groups were Marxist in outlook and espoused one-party rule.

Britain and the UDI

Britain's foreign policy of the rapid granting of independence to its African colonies (called NIBMAR) eventually forced Rhodesia to declare its independence after years of fruitless negotiations. Britain's rapid granting of Black majority rule independence to former colonies such as Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Nigeria ended up with those countries going into one-party rule and under the influence of the USSR and the Peoples Republic of China. Rhodesia was determined to avoid the same fate. NIBMAR or No Independence Before Majority Rule refers to the policy where Afro-Asian-Caribbean members of the Commonwealth advocated this position with respects to the future status of Rhodesia as a sovereign nation, and were heatedly pressuring British Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, to adopt the approach during a 21...

Sanctions and Sanctions Breakers

When the UDI was announced on November 11, 1965, Great Britain led an international campaign to deny Rhodesia international recognition as a sovereign state, and to impose an economic and sporting embargo. However, until 1974, these steps were ineffective as both South Africa and Portugal were both anti-communist and opposed to sanctions. South Africa supplied Rhodesia with military materiel and assistance while Portugal (through its colony of Mozambique) enabled fuel to reach Rhodesia and provided a port (Beira) for Rhodesian exports and imports. The Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) of Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) was signed on November 11, 1965 by the white minority regime of Ian Smith, whose Rhodesian Front party opposed rushed moves by the United Kingdom towards black majority rule in the then British colony. ... November 11 is the 315th day of the year (316th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 50 days remaining. ... 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (link goes to calendar). ... This article is about the economic term. ... Beira can mean one of the following: In the Celtic mythology of Scotland, Beira (mythology) was mother to all the gods and goddesses. ...

Attitudes from Certain countries

Rhodesia publicly extended a hand of friendship to the world in general and the other nations of Africa in particular, asking only that they not interfere with Rhodesia's internal affairs, but the UN and OAU rebuffed Smith, stating that they only recognized ZAPU and ZANU as the ligitimate representatives of the nation. This state of belligerancy by the OAU prevailed right up to 1980. The Zimbabwe African Peoples Union was a political party in Zimbabwe. ... The Zimbabwe African National Union was a political party during the struggle for Rhodesias, ultimately Zimbabwes, independence, formed as a split from ZAPU. It won the 1980 elections under the leadership of Robert Mugabe, and eight years later merged again with Joshua Nkomos ZAPU to form Zanu...

Zambia

Zambia (the former Northern Rhodesia) was heavilly dependent upon access through Rhodesia for its copper ore exports and fuel and power imports. Rhodesia still allowed Zambia to export and import its goods through its territory to Mozambique ports despite the Zambian government's official policy of hostility and non-recognition of the Smith post-UDI Administration. Zambia's geographic location forced this pragmatic approach, causing a delicate balance between the demands of the OAU and the economic realities of the nation.

USA

Despite its anti-communist credentials, the United States of America refused to recognize Rhodesia due to the fact that its government was under control of the White minority and that at that time the black populace in the USA was becoming a potent political force. In addition, the United Kingdom promised support for the USA's Vietnam polcy in return for the USA supporting the United Kingdom in its sanctions campaign against Rhodesia.

Portugal

Portugal persued a middle path with Rhodesia. While not officially recognizing the UDI state, it did permit Rhodesia to establish a diplomatic mission in Lisbon, and permitted Rhodesian exports and imports through their colony of Mozambique. The ardently anti-communist government in power at that time gave active behind-the-scenes support in Rhodesia's fight against the Marxist guerilla groups. When the Government of Portugal was overturned in a military coup d'etat in 1974, the new left-wing administration ceded their colonies in Africa to the Marxist insurgents fighting against the colonial administrations. This meant that in 1975, Mozambique came under control of FRELIMO, which closed its borders with Rhodesia and declared a state of belligerancy with the same, in addition to providing ZAPU and ZANU, bases to strike Rhodesia from Mozambique. The loss of Mozambique was a severe blow to the Smith Administration, particulary after South Africa quashed a proposal from the Mozambique Colonial Government to leave Northern Mozambique for FRELIMO and set up a pro Rhodesia administration south of the Zambezi River. 1974 (MCMLXXIV) is a common year starting on Tuesday (click on link for calendar). ... 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1975 calendar). ... The Mozambican Liberation Front (FRELIMO, pronounced fray-LEE-moo; Portuguese: Frente de Libertação de Moçambique) is a political party that has ruled Mozambique since independence in 1975. ... Zambezi River in North Western Zambia The Zambezi (also spelled Zambesi) is a river in Southern Africa. ...

South Africa

South Africa was at this time persuing a policy of detente with the Black African States. These states wanted South Africa to pressure Ian Smith to accept a faster transition to majority rule in Rhodesia. South Africa used a number of pressure tactics such as holding up shipments of fuel and ammunition to Rhodesia, and pulling out the South African forces from Rhodesia that was assisting the Rhodesian Army. Rhodesia attempted to inform South Africa that the detente policy would lead nowhere and that once Rhodesia was out of the way, South Africa would be next. The combination of the loss of Mozambique and the loss of support from South Africa forced Rhodesia to accept terms which otherwise would not have been entertained. To this day, expatriate Rhodesians regard South Africa's behavior as misguided stupidity at best and backstabbing treachery as worst.

Dominion vs Republic

Up until late 1969, Rhodesians still felt themselves loyal to Queen Elizabeth II, even though the British Government was still in their eyes an enemy of what Rhodesia stood for. The title Queen of Rhodesia however was never accepted by the Queen. Eventually, it was felt that trying to keep a connection to the British crown was not helping Rhodesia trying to secure recognition. 1969 (MCMLXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday For other uses, see Number 1969. ... Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor), born 21 April 1926, is the Queen regnant of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Antigua and Barbuda...

In March 1970, Rhodesia declared itself a republic, hoping that this move would enable recognition of itself as an independent state by the international community, but this was not forthcoming. Rhodesia's closest allies did not officially recognize Rhodesia's independence either and thus the diplomatic level was always kept at the level of 'Representatives'. In a broad definition, a republic is a state whose political organization rests on the principle that the citizens or electorate constitute the ultimate root of legitimacy and sovereignty. ...

Legations

After the UDI, Rhodesia House in London (The Rhodesian High Commission) simply became a representative office with no official diplomatic status. Other locations which had Rhodesian representative offices were Pretoria (South Africa - until 1979), Lourenço Marques (Mozambique - until 1975), Lisbon (Portugal - until 1975), Washington DC (USA - until 1979), Bonn (Federal Republic of Germany - until 1979), Tokyo (Japan - until 1979). Pretoria and Lisbon were the two most important legations for Rhodesia. The others were created after the Rhodesian Representatives at the United Kingdom Embassies in those countries were ejected after the UDI. A High Commissioner is a person serving in a special executive capacity. ... City motto: Praestantia Praevaleat Pretoria (May Pretoria Be Pre-eminent In Excellence) Province Gauteng Mayor Smangaliso Mkhatshwa Area  - % water 1,644 km² 0. ... Lourenço Marques was a 16th century Portuguese trader. ... District Lisbon Mayor   - Party Carmona Rodrigues PSD Area 84. ... ... Bonn is a city in Germany (19th largest), in the Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia, located about 20 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the north of the Siebengebirge. ... View of Tokyos Shibuya district Long a symbol of Tokyo, the Nijubashi Bridge at the Kokyo Imperial Palace. ...

Results

Its stated policy of evolutionary steps to eventual black majority rule, its stance against communism, and its strategic position in Africa did gain a degree of international support from some circles, but it was not enough to convince any government to come out in open support of Smith's government. This continued right up to - and including - the Internal Settlement that established Zimbabwe Rhodesia in 1979. Zimbabwe Rhodesia was the (largely unrecognised) name of Zimbabwe during 1979, adopted by Rhodesia soon after an Internal Settlement between the white minority Rhodesian Government led by Ian Smith and small, moderate African nationalist parties not involved in the war that had been raging in the country since 1977. ...