Kith and Kin? Rhodesia's White Settlers and Britain, 1939
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KITH AND KIN? RHODESIA’S WHITE SETTLERS AND BRITAIN, 1939 -1980 GEORGE BISHI THIS THESIS HAS BEEN SUBMITTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN THE FACULTY OF THE HUMANITIES FOR THE CENTRE FOR AFRICA STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF THE FREE STATE SUPERVISOR: PROF. I.R. PHIMISTER CO-SUPERVISORS: DR. A. STEVENSON DR. C. HOLDRIDGE NOVEMBER 2018 Declaration I declare that the thesis hereby submitted by me for the Doctor of Philosophy degree at the University of the Free State is my own independent work and I have not previously submitted it at another university or institution for any degree, diploma, or other qualification. I furthermore cede copyright of the dissertation in favour of the University of the Free State. George Bishi ……………………………………… Dedication To my family, Hannah and above all to God Almighty. Table of Contents Abstract ........................................................................................................................ i Opsomming ............................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgements .................................................................................................. iii Glossary ...................................................................................................................... v Graphs and Cartoons ............................................................................................... vii Chapter One ............................................................................................................... 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 1 Historiographical Reflections on Rhodesian Settlers ............................................. 3 Methodology and Sources ......................................................................................... 8 Thesis outline ........................................................................................................... 10 Chapter Two ............................................................................................................. 12 The Second World War and the Development of Kith and Kin Sentiments among Southern Rhodesian Settlers, 1939 – 45 ..................................................... 12 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 12 A Test of Loyalty: The British Empire at War ...................................................... 12 The British Empire/Commonwealth Air Training Scheme (BEATS) ............... 17 The Rhodesia Air Training Group (RATG) and other Military Contributions .. 19 Southern Rhodesia’s Economic and Humanitarian Contribution to the Imperial War effort .................................................................................................................. 25 Conclusion ................................................................................................................ 37 Chapter Three .......................................................................................................... 39 The Most British of all Colonies: Britishness, Whiteness and Loyalty to Britain in Southern Rhodesia, 1946 – 52 ............................................................................. 39 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 39 Settlers of the Right Type: Post-war Immigration Campaigns in Southern Rhodesia ................................................................................................................... 39 British Satellite Towns and Advertising Southern Rhodesia ............................... 43 ‘Undesirable’ Immigrants and Whiteness ............................................................. 47 Contestations between Old and New Settlers ....................................................... 56 Effects of Immigration, Loyalism and Racial Identity on Popular and White Nationalist Politics .................................................................................................. 60 Buy British: Trade Connections and Ties between Rhodesia and Britain ......... 65 Conclusion ................................................................................................................ 73 Chapter Four ............................................................................................................ 74 Racial Partnership, Liberalism and the Development of White Conservatism, 1953 – 62 .................................................................................................................... 74 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 74 Economic Boom, Prosperity and Race Relations in Southern Rhodesia ........... 74 The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, Racial Partnership and Class Struggle ..................................................................................................................... 79 Liberalism and the Development of White Conservatism.................................... 88 White Uncertainties, One Nation and Nationalism, 1959-1962 ........................... 92 Shifts towards Anti-British attitudes in Rhodesia ................................................. 98 Conclusion .............................................................................................................. 104 Chapter Five ........................................................................................................... 106 Father and Son Quarreling? White Rhodesians and Britain, 1963 – 71 ............. 106 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 106 Rhodesia Independence Negotiations and UDI ................................................ 106 Use of Force and Economic Sanctions against Rhodesia .................................. 114 Passports Controls and Regulations .................................................................... 120 Conflicting Loyalties and Allegiances .................................................................. 124 Awkward Kinship Ties, White Rhodesians and Britain ..................................... 128 Whiteness and White Solidarities ......................................................................... 137 Conclusion .............................................................................................................. 139 Chapter Six ............................................................................................................. 140 Britain and the Capitulation of White Power in Rhodesia, 1972 – 80 ................ 140 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 140 Kith and Kin Feelings or Pragmatism? Britain and White Rhodesians ............ 140 ‘Enemies of the State’: Prohibited and Undesirable Immigrants ...................... 148 War and Declining Settler Morale ........................................................................ 150 Britain and the Collapse of White Rhodesia ........................................................ 155 Conclusion .............................................................................................................. 167 Chapter Seven ........................................................................................................ 169 Bibliography ........................................................................................................... 178 Primary Sources ..................................................................................................... 178 National Archives of Zimbabwe (NAZ) .............................................................. 178 National Archives of South Africa (NASA) ......................................................... 179 Rhodes University, Cory Library .......................................................................... 179 University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg ........................................................ 179 The National Archives, Kew (TNA) .................................................................... 179 University of Oxford Bodleian Library ................................................................ 181 Official publications .............................................................................................. 181 Newspapers and periodicals ................................................................................. 181 Secondary Sources ................................................................................................. 183 Books ...................................................................................................................... 183 Book chapters and Journal articles ....................................................................... 190 Unpublished theses/dissertations and papers .................................................... 195 Internet sources ..................................................................................................... 196 Abstract This thesis explores the historical significance of kith and kin ties between white Rhodesia’s settlers and Britain from 1939 to 1980. It traces the extent to which kinship connections influenced the relations between white Rhodesian settlers and