 During the course of the First World War, Rhodesia's white population was split between the Unionists, for amalgamation into the Union of South Africa, and the Responsible Government Association, for independence.While the RGA was led by Coghlan, the Union Party's leader was Herbert Longden, another lawyer from Bulawayo.Longden, like the British Government, believed Rhodesia lacked the population and resources for an independent state.