AT THE FORMAL OPENING OF THE RHODESIAN PARLIAMENT'S NEW SESSION YESTERDAY (WEDNESDAY), MR CLIFFORD DUPONT, OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT, ANNOUNCED THE IMMINENT INTRODUCTION OF A NEW REPUBLICAN CONSTITUTION.

SHORTLY BEFORE THE OPENING CEREMONY, PRIME MINISTER IAN SMITH HAS TOLD REPORTERS THAT BRITAIN'S DECISION TO CLOSE ITS DIPLOMATIC MISSION IN SALISBURY MADE NO DIFFERENCE TO HIS COUNTRY'S STAND.

THE PLAYING OF "GOD SAVE THE QUEEN" INTRODUCED A STATE OCCASION MODELLED, - PROBABLY FOR THE LAST TIME - ON BRITISH LINES.

MR CLIFFORD DUPONT, TAKING THE PLACE OF SIR HUMPHREY GIBB, (WHO RESIGNED FROM THE GOVERNOR'S POST LAST NIGHT,) LED THE STATE PROCESSION INTO PARLIAMENT WHERE THE LEGISLATORS WERE ASSEMBLED. AMONG EARLY ARRIVALS WERE PRIME MINISTER IAN SMITH; MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LARDNER BURKE, WITH HIS WIFE; AND AFRICAN CHIEFS.

IN HIS OPENING SPEECH, MR DUPONT ANNOUNCED THAT WORK ON DRAFTING THE NEW REPUBLICAN CONSTITUTION WAS ALMOST COMPLETE AND THAT IT WOULD BE INTRODUCED TO PARLIAMENT THIS SESSION.

BRITAIN'S LAST REPRESENTATIVES IN RHODESIA ARE PREPARING THEIR WITHDRAWAL FOLLOWING THE SEVERING OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES. THE FINAL BREAK, ANNOUNCED IN LONDON TWO DAYS AGO (TUESDAY), CAME FOUR DAYS AFTER THE WHITE MINORITY ELECTORATE AGREES IN A REFERENDUM THAT RHODESIA SHOULD BECOME A REPUBLIC.