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A Matter of Weeks rather than Months: The Impasse between Harold Wilson and Ian Smith: Sanctions, Aborted Settlements and War: 1965-1969 | 
 enlarge | Author: J R T Wood
Publisher: Trafford Publishing
Category: Book
Buy New: $57.00
Avg. Customer Rating:  1 reviews
Sales Rank: 1341293
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 688
Shipping Weight (lbs): 3.4
Dimensions (in): 10 x 8 x 1.9
ISBN: 1425148077
Dewey Decimal Number: 960
EAN: 9781425148072
ASIN: 1425148077
Publication Date: April 28, 2008
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Founded on 35 years of research into o the post-1945 Anglo-Rhodesian history, this book complements Richard Wood's The Welensky Papers: A History of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland: 1953-1963 (1983) and So Far and No Further! Rhodesia's bid for independence during the retreat from empire: 1959-1965 (2005). Of So Far, Michael Hartnack wrote that 'Once in a lifetime comes a book which must force a total shift in the thinking person's perception of an epoch, and of all the prominent characters who featured in it.' A Matter of Weeks Rather than Months recounts the action and reaction to Ian Smith's unilateral declaration of Rhodesia's independence, the second such declaration since the American one of 1776. It examines the dilemmas of both sides. Smith's problem was how to legitimise his rebellion to secure crucial investment capital, markets, trade and more. His antagonist, the British Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, was determined not to transfer sovereignty until Rhodesia accepted African majority rule in common with the rest of Africa. Given British feelings for their Rhodesian kith and kin and Rhodesia's landlocked position, Wilson eschewed the use of force. He could only impose sanctions but hoped they would defeat Smith 'in a matter weeks rather than months'. The Rhodesians, however, evaded the sanctions with such success that they forced Wilson to negotiate a settlement. Negotiations were nevertheless doomed because the self-confident Rhodesians would not accept a period of direct British rule while rapid progress to majority rule was made or the imposition of restraints on powers they had possessed since gaining self-government in 1923. In tune with their allies in the African National Congress of South Africa, the Rhodesian or Zimbabwean African nationalists had already adopted the Marxist concept of the 'Armed Struggle' as a means to power. Sponsored by the Communist Bloc, its surrogates and allies, they began a series of armed incursions from their safe haven in Zambia. Although bloodily and easily repulsed, they would learn from their mistakes as the Rhodesian forces would discover in the 1970s. Consequently, this is a tale of sanctions, negotiations and counter-insurgency warfare.
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| Customer Reviews:
A colossus of rich detail from a Rhodesian expert. June 5, 2008
Dr Wood's new book on Rhodesia (1965-1969) accurately details the attempts to negotiate an end to UDI, the talks between British and Rhodesian officials and between Ian Smith and Harold Wilson. It also describes and discusses the armed challenge posed by Sithole's ZANU and Nkomo's ZAPU.
This book complements the equally impressive tome `So Far and No Further', explaining the roots of UDI and the bid for independence during the period 1959-1965.
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