 Britain raised the issue formally in the North Atlantic Council , NATO 's most senior political governing body , the same day . Here Portugal 's delegate , Vasco da Cunha , argued that given the standing existence of independent Rhodesian offices in Lourenço Marques , Pretoria and London , the matter was between Britain and Rhodesia , and not Portugal 's business . Rhodesia had simply asked to have Reedman head a representative office in Lisbon , and he would not present a letter of accreditation . If Rhodesia had exaggerated this , da Cunha said , that was not Portugal 's concern . The Italian , Belgian , Danish , French and U.S. delegates in turn sided with Britain , and collectively asked da Cunha to tell his government to publicly declare its non @-@ acceptance of Reedman while he lacked British approval . Da Cunha refused , saying this would only irritate his compatriots " because of the neglect by their allies of their interests in the past " . The meeting broke up without agreement . Whitehall was pleased with the pro @-@ British sentiment displayed therein , while Lisbon remained unmoved . 
