 Gibbs then said that Rhodesia wished to have the best possible relations with its neighbours , and startled British observers by saying the government had informed him that it would follow recommendations made by Portugal during recent talks , and would open its own diplomatic mission in the Portuguese capital Lisbon as soon as was practical . Evan Campbell , Rhodesia 's High Commissioner in London , asked Whitehall the same day to endorse the appointment of Harry Reedman as Rhodesia 's " accredited representative " to Portugal , reasoning that the 1957 act allowing the Federation to do so still covered Rhodesia under the principle of national succession . The 1963 letter of intent from Sandys confirmed this in Rhodesia 's eyes . Historian J R T Wood calls this " Rhodesia 's first independent and indeed unilateral act — the veritable straw in the wind . " 
