 Discussions proceeded rapidly during the week , but did not touch on the issue of Lisbon until the fifth day , 26 July , when Hughes and Johnston met with Smith , Deputy Prime Minister Clifford Dupont , and Trade and Industry Minister George Rudland . Dupont opened the discussion by referring to Sandys ' statement from 1963 , which said the Rhodesian government would retain any rights previously granted to the Federation , which Dupont reasoned surely included the ability given in 1957 to appoint its own overseas agents if it informed Britain . As Portugal had indicated its willingness to accept a Rhodesian diplomat , Dupont said , the Rhodesian government was acting perfectly within its rights . 
