1939: Rhodesia, Southern

Southern Rhodesia, a British colony in South Africa, is situated in the interior, bounded north by Northern Rhodesia, west by Bechuanaland, south by the Union of South Africa, and east by Mozambique. It has an area of 150,333 sq. mi. The total population in 1938 was estimated at 1,375,540 inhabitants, of whom 1,311,000 were African natives and 58,870 were Europeans. The capital is Salisbury.

The chief agricultural crops are cotton, maize, green vegetables, groundnuts, tobacco, and citrus fruits. Livestock-raising is an important industry. The principal minerals are gold, coal, asbestos, chrome ore, tungsten, silver, mica, tin, and iron. Total exports in 1937 were valued at £10,704,679; total imports, chiefly of manufactured goods, machinery, and foodstuffs, were valued at £8,568,685. It is administered by a Governor, appointed by the British Crown, assisted by an executive council. Legislation is in the hands of an assembly of 30 members elected by the people. There are further native councils represented by native chiefs, who advise the Governor on local matters.

On Jan. 26, 1939, owing to German agitation for colonial concessions in South Africa, the minister of defense called up volunteers who would be willing to serve beyond the borders of Southern Rhodesia. In February Southern Rhodesia sent its delegate to the meeting in South Africa attended by representatives of a number of the British African colonies to make plans for combating Nazi influence in their borders and to place themselves on record as against any colonial adjustment which would restore colonies to Germany. On Aug. 28, on the eve of the European War, the Parliament of Southern Rhodesia passed an emergency powers act which gave the Government authority to enforce industrial conscription and to punish profiteering. On Sept. 6 the colony pledged its complete loyalty to Great Britain.