PORTUGUESE, GERMAN, FRENCH, BELGIUM CONSULATES, OFFICES AND FLAGS; OFFICES OF PORTUGUESE; SOUTH AFRICAN, BRITISH UNITED AIRLINES; BRITISH MISSION BUILDINGS.




Initials KM/VS/PN/ES



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: WHILE BRITAIN ANNOUNCED EARLIER THIS WEEK THAT IT WAS WITHDRAWING ITS MISSION IN SALISBURY AFTER RHODESIANS VOTED IN FAVOUR OF A REPUBLIC, MANY OTHER EUROPEAN AIRLINES AND CONSULAR OFFICES APPEAR TO REMAIN OPEN.

ON THURSDAY, FLAGS WERE FLYING OVER THE PORTUGUESE, GERMAN, FRENCH AND BELGIUM, CONSULATES AND THEY APPEARED TO BE CONDUCTING BUSINESS AS USUAL INSPITE OF THE FACT THAT THEY ALL CLOSED THEIR OFFICES WHEN RHODESIA DECLARED HER INDEPENDENCE IN 1965.

AIRLINES OFFICES TOO ARE DOING A BRISK BUSINESS IN SALISBURY, THE RHODESIAN CAPITAL. THOSE OPERATING INCLUDE THE BRITISH OVERSEAS AIRWAYS CORPORATION, THE PORTUGUESE AIRLINE, TAP, BRITISH UNITED AIRWAYS, AND SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS. TAP, THE PORTUGUESE AIRLINE HAS POSTERS IN MANY TRAVEL AGENT'S SHOPS WELCOMING RHODESIANS TO PORTUGAL.

BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY MICHAEL STEWART ANNOUNCED LAST WEDNESDAY THAT BRITAIN WAS WITHDRAWING HER MISSION IN SALISBURY AND CLOSING RHODESIA HOUSE IN LONDON.

RHODESIAN PREMIER IAN SMITH SAID THAT HE DID NOT FEEL ANY ISOLATION WITH THE CLOSURE OF THE BRITISH MISSION AND THE LIKELIHOOD THAT OTHER FOREIGN MISSIONS WOULD ALSO SHUT THEIR DOORS IN SALISBURY.

HE SAID THAT RHODESIA HAD HER CONTACTS AND THAT THEY WORK EVERY WELL. HE ADDED THAT RHODESIANS HAD BEEN THROUGH IT ALL BEFORE.