The Rhodesia Settlement
THE RHODESIA SETTLEMENT 1. Introduction 1. The negotiating tactics adopted at Lancaster House were based on a study of the Kissinger initiative, the breakdown of the Geneva Conference and the subsequent failure of negotiations on the Anglo-American proposals. 2. By 1976 the situation for which the six principles (Annex A) had originally been designed—the granting of independence in advance of but with guarantees of unimpeded progress to majority rule—had long since been overtaken. The Pearce Commission had concluded that the last serious attempt to reach a settlement on that basis was not acceptable to the people of Rhodesia. The granting of independence to Mozambique, the closure of the border and the support given by the FRELIMO Government to the ZANLA (Mugabe) forces operating from its territory transformed the time-scale for Rhodesia’s prospects of survival. 3. The South African Government, conscious of the dangers of being drawn into increasingly direct support for a regime in Rhodesia which no longer had any long term prospects of survival—and of Mr Smith’s attempts to appeal over their heads to South African opinion—began at last actively seeking to promote a political settlement and had shown that they were prepared to put pressure on Mr Smith. By 1976 they had concluded that the best course was to work for the emergence of a moderate black Government. In June 1976 a meeting with Mr Vorster convinced Dr Kissinger that if the British and American Governments could produce a viable plan for a settlement, the South Africans would help to ‘deliver’ Mr Smith. There were consultations between the British and American Governments about proposals for the transition leading to independence (though the idea of a British Governor was rejected at this time by the Government, who saw dangers in Britain getting too directly involved). On 19 September Dr Kissinger persuaded Mr Smith to accept five points drafted by the Americans. Dr Kissinger gave Mr Smith the impression that he had obtained the agreement of Presidents Kaunda and Nyerere to the five points. Mr Smith announced his acceptance of them in Salisbury on 24 September. 4. Mr Smith emphasized that what he had agreed with Dr Kissinger constituted a package deal including the lifting of sanctions and an injection of development capital. The five points provided for majority rule within two years. The Rhodesian Government would meet with African leaders to organise an interim Government until majority rule was 43
