In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:

198 POLITICAL SPEECHES I have complimented the hon. the Minister on his Budget, I have made one or two suggestions, and I have possibly made a few more criticisms than might be expected, or even welcomed, from an hon. Member on this side of the House, but it is because I believe that the hope of this country is placed in the government of the day that I am determined to say anything that I think should be said for its welfare. (Applause.) I am sure that the people have the greatest confidence in the hon. the Prime Minister and in his government, but their hope will only be sustained so long as the government steadfastly follows its policy and does not deviate either to the right or to the left, only so long as the government keeps its actions in harmony with the broad outlook of the hon. the Prime Minister himself; for it is in that principle of humanitarianism that the people of the country have placed their confidence and their hope. I am quite convinced that if this House is willing to see that all the potentialit m ties of the country are used to the full, then the future of Rhodesia is assured. (Applause.) Speech on Federation June 23, 1952 In the early 1950s federation—the uniting of three British colonies of Northern Rhodesia, Southern Rhodesia, and Nyasaland—was serio m ously promoted. African nationalists opposed federation because they correctly believed that it was one more mechanism for whites to prol m long colonial power and white control. White right-wing extremists who were later to become the leaders of the breakaway independent white Rhodesia also opposed federation, believing it would slow down Southern Rhodesia’s ability to become an independent dominion. Southern Rhodesian Prime Minister Godfrey Huggins and the United Party promoted federation primarily on economic grounds, believing that federation would spur economic development and growth for Central Africa. Huggins believed that a gradual emancipation would take place for Africans through a partnership between the races. Todd, a United Party member working within the political system, endorsed the partnership metaphor. However, Todd interpreted it as allowing all blacks who were educated and “civilized” to be placed on an equal footi m ing as whites. He also believed that Africans were more rapidly achieving civilized standards than Huggins and the rest of the United Party. It was a paternalistic approach but more progressive than Huggins’s vision. Casey.Rhetoric.indd 212 1/9/07 11:12:10 AM Todd stated in this speech in support of federation: “It has been suggested that the Home Government wishes to use Southern Rhodesia as a brake on the development of strong African nationalism. I do not believe that that is the motive for the proposed federation. . . . We are committing it to a policy of racial cooperation.” Todd, as will be seen in a later speech, admitted that he was wrong about racial cooperation. Federation came into being in 1953 and Huggins vacated the Southe m ern Rhodesian premiership to become the new federation prime mini m ister. Todd ascended from the back bench to replace Huggins as prime minister of Southern Rhodesia. This speech is an excellent example of Todd’s loyalty to Huggins and the United Party that resulted in his surprising choice as Huggins’s replacement. The speech text is from Southern Rhodesia Debates of the Legislative Assembly, vol. 33, pp. 2668–78. Mr. Todd: Mr. Speaker, when I first came to this country, I came to serve one section of the population alone; that was the African section; but as the years pass we all come to love the country for its own sake. We come to realise that the interests of all the people in the country are essentially one, and that anyo m one who serves the interests of one section well, serves the whole. I have felt in recent years—as the Colony has been developing, gaining strength and taking a more important place in our Commonwealth, the very great privilege of being a member of this particular country at this particular time. In considering an important subject such as the one which is before us, I feel that we have got to use our very best intelligence and goodwill so that eventually we may come to the right decision. We are fortunate (I feel myself fortunate) this afternoon to have heard the three hon. members who have spok m ken, because they...

Share