 The British continued their policy of stalling Smith . At the end of August 1965 , they did not consider a Rhodesian UDI an immediate threat , and therefore focussed on the colony 's maintained defiance of the mother country regarding Reedman and Lisbon . On 30 August , Johnston summarised Britain 's stand on the issue for Bottomley 's Commonwealth Relations Office . According to his understanding , he said , Rhodesia had been told just before Federal dissolution that it would retain the Federation 's former powers regarding external affairs , but that this entrustment was subject to British discretion , and could not be exercised without extensive prior consultation and conformity to Britain 's line . 
