The Unilateral Declaration of
Independence (Southern Rhodesia)
(November 11, 1965)
Whereas in the course of human affairs history has shown that
Independence (Southern Rhodesia)
(November 11, 1965)
it may become necessary for a people to resolve the political affiliations
which have connected them with another people and
to assume amongst other nations the separate and equal status
to which they are entitled:
And whereas in such event a respect for the opinions of
mankind requires them to declare to other nations the causes
which impel them to assume full responsibility for their own
affairs:
Now therefore, we, the Government of Rhodesia, do hereby
declare:
That it is an indisputable and accepted historic fact that since
1923 the Government of Rhodesia have exercised the powers
of self-government and have been responsible for the progress,
development and welfare of their people;
That the people of Rhodesia having demonstrated their loyalty
to the Crown and to their kith and kin in the United Kingdom
and elsewhere through two world wars, and having prepared
to shed their blood and give of what their substance in
they believed to be the mutual interests of freedom-loving people,
now see all that they have cherished, about to be shattered
on the rocks of expediency;
That the people of Rhodesia have witnessed a process which
is destructive of those very precepts upon which civilization in
a primitive country has been built; they have seen the principles
of Western democracy, responsible government and moral
standards crumble elsewhere; nevertheless they have remained
steadfast;
That the people of Rhodesia fully support the requests of
their Government for sovereign independence but have witnessed
the consistent refusal of the Government of the United
Kingdom to accede to their entreaties;
That the Government of the United Kingdom have thus
demonstrated that they are not prepared to grant sovereign independence
to Rhodesia on terms acceptable to the people of
Rhodesia, thereby persisting in maintaining an unwarrantable
jurisdiction over Rhodesia, obstructing laws and treaties with
other states and the conduct of affairs with other nations and
refusing assent to laws necessary for the public good; all this to
the detriment of the future peace, prosperity and good government
of Rhodesia;
That the Government of Rhodesia have for a long period patiently
and in good faith negotiated with the Government of the
United Kingdom for the removal of the remaining limitations
placed upon them and for the grant of sovereign independence;
That in the belief that procrastination and delay strike at and
injure the very life of the nation, the Government of Rhodesia
consider it essential that Rhodesia should attain, without delay,
sovereign independence, the justice of which is beyond question;
Now therefore, we, the Government of Rhodesia, in humble
submission to Almighty God who controls the destinies of nations,
conscious that the people of Rhodesia have always shown
unswerving loyalty and devotion to Her Majesty the Queen and
earnestly praying that we and the people of Rhodesia will not
be hindered in our determination to continue exercising our
undoubted right to demonstrate the same loyalty and devotion,
and seeking to promote the common good so that the dignity
and freedom of all men may be assured, do, by this Proclamation,
adopt, enact and give to the people of Rhodesia the Constitution
annexed hereto.
God save the Queen.
Given under Our Hand at Salisbury, this eleventh day of November
in The Year of Our Lord one thousand nine hundred
and sixty-five.
Source: Independence Documents of the World, ed. Albert P. Blaustein, Jay Sigler,
and Benjamin R. Beede, 2 vols. (New York, 1977), II, 587.
