492. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom1
2550. British Emboff (Killick) delivered note today informing us that Office of Minister for Southern Rhodesian Affairs closed and appointments members that office terminated. Appointments terminated on [Page 839] grounds Southern Rhodesians in Embassy “in response formal questioning failed state they do not support action former GSR.” All Southern Rhodesian officers, including non-white Lot Senda, failed renounce action former GSR.
Killick asked us not be hasty in taking such action as revoking diplomatic visas, since he felt Senda and possibly one other might change minds. We agreed take no action until British Embassy approached us again, probably in about 48 hours. We have had no contact with Southern Rhodesians except that Bentley, former Counselor Rhodesian Affairs, has requested appointment with the Secretary.
Subsequently British Emboff (Walker) informed us by phone Embassy instructed formally request USG announce that we did not intend recognize SR regime and that we withdrawing McClelland.2 Also, HMG would understand if we vague on possible US countermeasures until HMG acted. According Emboff, further instructions on way re relations US officials with former SR officials such posts as Lisbon.
Still later, Walker dictated over phone note informing USG that HMG considered SRG’s declaration of independence “an act of rebellion,” that Queen had dismissed SRG PM and other Ministers, and that British High Commissioner withdrawn from Salisbury and SR High Commissioner London asked leave.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 16 RHOD. Confidential; Priority. Drafted by McElhiney, cleared by Judd, and approved by McElhiney. Repeated to Salisbury, CINCLANT, and CINCSTRIKE.↩
- For text of Secretary Rusk’s statement after meeting with the President at the LBJ Ranch on November 11, see Department of State Bulletin, December 6, 1965, p. 895.↩