 Ross rebuked Nogueira for allowing the broadcast , saying its content was insidious and goading . Nogueira agreed that Reedman 's words were provocative , but said Portugal could not be blamed as it did not censor public broadcasts . Britain considered withdrawing Ross in protest , but its Foreign Office ruled this out , saying Britain could not afford to be without an ambassador in Lisbon to influence Portugal 's actions in the event of UDI . British Cabinet Secretary Burke Trend rejected this view , pointing to Lisbon 's conduct regarding Reedman , which he said showed the Portuguese " ha [ d ] very clearly made up their minds " to support a Rhodesian UDI . The British ambassador would not be able to affect matters , he surmised , and British interests would be better served by immediately taking a firm hand against Portugal , in the hope that this would send a strong message to Rhodesia . Ross then protested to the Portuguese about Reedman 's calling himself " head of the Rhodesian diplomatic mission " on the radio ; Lisbon replied impassively that this was a private expression of views by Reedman , and not Portugal 's responsibility . 
