Europe 217
Fatalities: None
Narrative: On November 11, 1965, Rhodesia declared independence from the United
Kingdom. The British Commonwealth refused to recognize the Rhodesian regime unless
it implemented majority rule, but white-only elections were the law in the majority-
black country. On November 20, 1965, the UN Security Council called for an embargo
of materiel and, to the extent possible, oil and petroleum. Britain requested South
African and Portuguese participation in the embargo, but both declined. In addition,
Malawi and Zambia were heavily reliant on the Rhodesian economy and also declined.
Portugal’s refusal to cooperate was particularly important because Rhodesia
depended on Portuguese Mozambique for access to the ocean. On April 9, 1966, the
UN Security Council passed Resolution 221, which granted Britain the use of force
to prevent oil from reaching the Mozambique port of Beira, where it could easily be
sent to Rhodesia by pipeline. The next day a British naval vessel boarded a Greek oil
tanker headed for Beira (Portuguese Mozambique) and forced it to change direction.
However, a few days later another ship made it to Beira with oil for Rhodesia. On
April 14, Portugal seized control of the tanker at Beira, ending this militarized dispute.
Britain and Rhodesia met in early December to seek settlement of the overall issue
but were unsuccessful. The United Nations imposed new sanctions on December 16.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from March 10, 1966.
200 United Kingdom/255 Germany
MID#1269
Started in March 1919. See the narrative in the 255 Germany/367 Latvia dyad dispute list.
MID#127
Started in March 1921. See the narrative in the 220 France/255 Germany dyad dispute list.
200 United Kingdom/265 German Democratic Republic
MID#27
Started in July 1961. See the narrative in the 2 United States of America/365 Russia
dyad dispute list.
200 United Kingdom/290 Poland
MID#27
Started in July 1961. See the narrative in the 2 United States of America/365 Russia
dyad dispute list.