Dressed in black tie and tux, Prime Minister Ian Smith jerked a piece of bunting one night last week to ring a 250-lb. bronze replica of the Liberty Bell. "I toll for justice, Christianity and civilization," cried Smith at a ball celebrating the first anniversary of his Unilateral Declaration of Independence. "Every time it chimes it will be another nail in the coffin of those who want to interfere in the internal affairs of Rhodesia." Then Smith and his wife went out on the dance floor to kick the gong around.
Despite economic sanctions against them, Rhodesians seem to be enjoying their independence. One year after Smith's declaration, The U.D.I. Song was again the top tune on the Rhodesian hit parade. It goes:
You can call us rebels,
You can call us rogues,
We were founded by an Englishman
By the name of Cecil Rhodes.
To celebrate the anniversary, many of the 220,000 white Rhodesians went to band concerts, braaivleis (barbecues) and balls. Clearly, Rhodesia was not becoming a "banana republic," as British Prime Minister Harold Wilson had predicted. Instead, one nightclub had on its U.D.I, menu such defiant delicacies as "clear turtle soup a la Wilson" and "fried filet of Martin Luther King."
The Mascara Runs. Though food prices are as much as 20% higher, most brands are still on store shelves. Costs of such luxury items as chocolate have skyrocketed, and the only mascara available runs down the ladies' faces. But signs of austerity are few, and business in downtown Salisbury is brisk. Unable to buy from Britain and other Commonwealth countries, Rhodesia has simply turned to friendly South Africa instead. Since Prime Minister Wilson cannot prevent South Africa from selling oil to Rhodesia, Smith gets all he needs to keep the economy going.
To be sure, Rhodesia has been unable to sell the bulk of its tobacco crop —the nation's biggest cash earner—because of the sanctions. Nevertheless, most farmers have got rid of enough to cover their production costs. In any case, the loss may be a boon, since it is forcing Rhodesians to diversify their crops. Whatever their impact, sanctions have served only to make the whites more adamant.
Meanwhile, the long negotiations on the issues that divide Britain and Rhodesia are proceeding at a snail's pace. Wilson wants guarantees that the nation's 4,000,000 blacks will eventually gain majority rule when their "achievement warrants it." Smith, who has said that "one man, one vote will not come within my life," wants the whites to have power to decide when the time is ripe. He also objects to Wilson's demand that he return legal power to the British governor to implement any agreement reached-with London. At week's end, Smith said the gap had narrowed and that "man to man" talks between him and Wilson would be useful. British officials were not so sure.
Though he would prefer to settle the dispute within the Commonwealth, Wilson has vowed to take it to the U.N. if no accord is reached by Nov. 30. If that happens, Smith has said that "the matter would be taken out of our hands," meaning he would have no choice but to declare Rhodesia a republic and sever ties with the Commonwealth.