Britain imposes an embargo on Rhodesian trade

Britain imposed an embargo on Rhodesian trade. The ban came just two months after Southern Rhodesia (now known as Zimbabwe) Prime Minister, Ian Douglas Smith, announced the Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI). During his announcement Smith said; “Now I would like to say a few words to you. Today, now that the final stalemate in negotiations has become evident, the end of the road has been reached. It has become abundantly clear that it is the policy of the British Government to play us along with no real intention of arriving at a solution which we could possibly accept. Indeed, in the latest verbal and confidential message delivered to me last night we find that on the main principle which is in dispute the two Governments have moved further apart. I promised the people of this country that I would continue to negotiate to the bitter end and that I would leave no stone unturned in my endeavours to secure an honourable and mutually accepted settlement...”