RHODESIA: BREAKAWAY REGIME RAISES NEW FLAG IN SALISBURY CEREMONY

Record ID: 636111

  • Title: RHODESIA: BREAKAWAY REGIME RAISES NEW FLAG IN SALISBURY CEREMONY
  • Date: 12th November 1968
  • Summary: FLAG RAISING CEREMONY; ARRIVAL OF MR. DUPONT AND MR. SMITH; GUARD OF HONOUR; TRUMPETS; GUN SALUTE FIRED. Initials RE/VS/BOB/SS Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 27th November 1968 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: SALISBURY, RHODESIA
  • Country: Zimbabwe
  • Reuters ID: LVA794STB49OB49LMSGW0W68TOTS
  • Story Text: THE NEW GREEN AND WHITE RHODESIAN FLAG WAS RAISED FOR THE FIRST TIME YESTERDAY, AS RHODESIA CELEBRATED THE THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF ITS SELF-PROCLAIMED INDEPENDENCE. THE FLAG RAISING CEREMONY WAS ATTENDED BY MR. IAN SMITH, LEADER OF THE REBEL REGIME, AND OTHER OFFICIALS.

    THE UNION JACK, WHICH HAD FLOWN OVER RHODESIA FOR 78 YEARS, WAS CEREMONIAL HAULED DOWN AT A SUNDOWN SERVICE ON SUNDAY. THE NEW FLAG WHICH BEARS NO MARK OF BRITISH CONNECTIONS, WAS RAISED AT A STATE PAGEANT IN SALISBURY WATCHED BY THOUSANDS OF RHODESIANS. BUGLES SOUNDED AND A 19-GUN SALUTE WAS FIRED AS THE FLAG WAS RAISED. MR. SMITH, THE RHODESIAN PRIME MINISTER, MR. DUPONT, OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT AND OTHER OFFICIALS WERE PRESENT AT THE CEREMONY. MR. DUPONT'S FUNCTIONS ARE THOSE OF HEAD OF STATE FOR THE SALISBURY REGIME.

    THE NEW FLAG WAS RAISED SOON AFTERWARDS FROM SCORES OF PRIVATE AND PUBLIC BUILDINGS, INCLUDING THE SALISBURY AIRPORT AND POLICE STATIONS. THE STATUE OF CECIL RHODES, FOUNDER OF RHODESIA, WHOSE DREAM WAS TO SEE THE UNION JACK FLYING FROM "THE CAPE TO CAIRO," DOMINATES THE GROUNDS WHERE THE FLAG RAISING CEREMONY WAS PERFORMED.

    MR. GEORGE THOMSON, BRITAIN'S MAIN NEGOTIATOR OVER THE INDEPENDENCE ISSUE, FLEW TO ZAMBIA AND MALAWI YESTERDAY. AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE, RESIDENCE OF THE OFFICIAL GOVERNOR OF RHODESIA, SIR HUMPHREY GIBBS, MANY RHODESIANS WHO REMAIN LOYAL TO BRITAIN ARRIVED TO SIGN THE VISITORS BOOK AS MARK OF THEIR CONTINUED LOYALTY THE UNION JACK CONTINUES TO FLY AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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