On 4 September 1978 a combined NATJOC meeting was held which Ian Smith attended. This was the day after the first Viscount tragedy. It appears that in the meeting after Smith had left the meeting, the Generals or elements of NATJOC rebelled and decided to approach the British Government to find out if a coup was staged, what would be the British Governments position, if Rhodesia was returned to British rule. Declassified minutes of the British Cabinet meeting of 7th September 1978 shows that the British were approached (cab-128-64 of the British archives). Any approach by these senior Generals would hand the British a significant advantage in future negotiations. This also compromised Ian Smith's hand at the Lancaster House conference. The action was almost certainly treasonous and had the Rhodesian people known about the contemplated or proposed coup, they would have demanded at the very least removal of the culprits.