 As most of the Southern Rhodesian politicians saw it , they were as good as independent ; if full autonomy were granted in the form of dominionship , the only practical difference would be a rise in expenses for foreign representation , as Salisbury would have to maintain its own embassies abroad . Believing full dominion status to be effectively symbolic and " there for the asking " , Prime Minister Godfrey Huggins ( in office from 1933 to 1953 ) regarded independence as a non @-@ issue . He twice refused British overtures hinting at dominion status , and instead pursued an initially semi @-@ independent Federation with the directly administered British colonies of Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland . 
