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Two things that are key to unfolding history, and which throw light
on the end of Rhodesia, have been evaded by Ian Smith throughout his
memoirs (see TBR, March/April 1998). these concern the Congo-UN revelations
published in the U.S. Congressional Record in 1962 and again
later, and the sensational findings of the "Rivonia Treason Trials"
of 1963-64 in South Africa. These events cannot be discussed here for
reasons of space, but have been dealt with by several writers.
All salient details of the sequence of events leading to the decline
and fall of Rhodesia were faithfully documented throughout the 1960s
and 1970s by Ivor Benson (my husband), in an effort to alert and fortify
individual resistance by means of his writings, time given to addressing
patriotic associations around the world, and in particular through widely
circulated newsletter Behind the News (early copies of which
are available for research at the Cape Town, South Africa library).
In his eye-opening essays, Benson employed all his professional expertise,
knowledge and insight as an independent writer and news analyst, to
bring about an awakening that could have saved both the white and black
races of Rhodesia from wasting energy and blood in a "no-win war" that
was a direct consequence of Smith's process of piecemeal "negotiation
and settlement."
Among the many curious omissions from Smith's memoirs is the name of
Ivor Benson; and here it is relevant to note that Smith's kindly critics
include generally respected mainstream British writers who to this day
dismiss Benson as "Smith's propagandist," and worse. Nearly all of them
reflexly repeating scurrilous, politically motivated slanders, which
were exposed at the time in a high court case as being wholly without
foundation. Yet, instead of researching the sources still easily accessible,
these writers have chosen "the device of quoting others who, in turn,
have quoted earlier others."
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It
was Benson who early in 1964 (nearly two years before independence was
declared) was invited by the beleaguered ruling Rhodesian Front to report
on the country's information services, and take on the post of information
advisor to the Rhodesian government. The government was desirous of
improving Smith's then somewhat negative image (since he was regarded
by a section of the public as a "leftist-liberal" of the old establishment
party who had changed sides only to oust the original leader of the
new grassroots party).
At the time most Rhodesians, left and right, knew very well that the
inspiring, election-winning speaches of 1964-65, which gave Smith his
"populist" world image, had been written by Benson- the new information
advisor- the man who was welcomed by grassroots Rhodesians and viciously
attacked in the mining-finance press that had always been recognized
as the instrument of Rhodesia's powerfully entrenched liberal establishment.
The addresses prepared by Benson were highly effective, but his memoranda
advising the Smith government as to steps it could take to ensure the
survival of the nation went largely disregarded.
It is significant to note that the Rhodesian government was careful
to offer a renewal of the information advisor's two-year contract and
that Benson declined, quietly choosing to resign soon after the unilateral
declaration of independence. Benson did this because he had correctly
assessed Smith's inflexible determination to seek a "negotiated settlement"
with the hostile British government and the powerful forces of the liberal
establishment, which still dominated Rhodesia's economy.
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