It is interesting to speculate what might have happened if Rhodesia had joined the Union in 1923

[barryqwalsh]

Rhodesian and Union Delegates at the conference to consider terms for Rhodesia's admission to the Union of South Africa, April 1922



Clearly a great South African Dominion had been Rhodes' own dream and how he might have influenced the decision, had he not died at the early age of 49, is a matter for debate in its own right. However in 1948 Prime Minister Field Marshal Smuts lost the South African general election by a very narrow margin to the Afrikaner nationalists led by Dr Malan. In fact Smuts obtained more votes than Malan but fewer seats. The point of interest is that had Rhodesia been in the Union then Smuts, not Malan, would have won fairly easily and apartheid as promoted by the National Party would most likely never have come about. Instead a policy based on merit, more akin to that followed by Rhodesia, would probably have been adopted in South Africa which no doubt, similar to Australia, would then also have encouraged mass white immigration. Clearly the question of Rhodesia having to declare its own independence (UDI) would never have arisen.


Rhodesian Leaders

 

[whitehall]

You gotta be kidding. Does anybody in his right mind with a historic perspective of the 20th century think that Afrikaner Whites would have saved their lives and property if they capitulated to the radical Nationalists in the 20's?