Sir Denis Greenhill, britain's top career diplomat, arrived in Salisbury, Rhodesia on Wednesday (17 May) to deliver the Pearce Commission report to Rhodesian leader Ian Smith. The Pearce Commission was sent to Rhodesia earlier this year to assess the acceptability of last November's Anglo-Rhodesian settlement proposals to the Rhodesian populace.

The controversial settlement proposals, whose future are now at stake, provide for Rhodesia's legal independence from Britain under the present regime in exchange for constitutional guarantees of progress towards eventual majority rule.

The British government has made it clear that if the Pearce Commission records a "No" verdict it would not go ahead with the proposed accords. In that case the present economic and other sanctions against the breakaway territory would continue.

Mr Smith has said the expects to take abut two days to study the report, and is then likely to have further meetings with Sir Denis. Their first meeting lasted thirty minutes.