U.K. Defied By Rhodesia

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30815, 29 July 1965, Page 17

U.K. Defied By Rhodesia

(N Z P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) SALISBURY (Rhodesia), July 28. Rhodesia last night announced the appointment of a diplomatic representative to Portugal in spite of Britain’s claim to responsibility for Rhodesia’s external affairs.

Mr Dupont announced in Parliament tonight that Mr Harry Reedman, a former Minister of Immigration and Tourism, would be Rhodesia’s diplomatic representative in Lisbon with effect from August 1. The announcement of the appointment of Mr Reedman followed by 24 hours a British statement that Britain’s attitude on the matter would be governed by a need to preserve ultimate responsibility for Rhodesia’s external affairs. Rhodesia, although it has had home rule since 1923, is still a British colony. Its white-dominated Government is pressing for independence. Britain’s Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations, Mr Cledwyn Hughes, told a press conference at Salisbury airport before leaving for London tonight: “I had a long confidential discussion with the Rhodesian Prime Minister

(Mr lan Smith) and the Minister for External Affairs (Mr Clifford Dupont) on this subject yesterday. “I did make the views of the British Government abundantly clear to them.” After Mr Dupont’s announcement, the Leader of the Opposition United People’s Party, Mr Josiah Gondo. was asked by reporters outside Parliament if the Government’s action was in defiance of Britain. He said: “It would appear so.”

Mr Dupont told Parliament that the Rhodesian Government’s view was that Britain had clearly handed over to Rhodesia the increasing rights in the appointment of diplomatic posts which it had given to the Central African Federation, dissolved in December, 1963.

He said: “Our view is that we are only required to advise Britain of the appointment.”