State press censorship, introduced by the Smith administration on UDI, was lifted in early April 1968, though according to the "Glasgow Herald" the government retained "considerable powers to control information. It may reflect no more than Mr Smith's growing confidence that nothing—short of a sell-out to Britain—can undermine his position in Rhodesia". The series of Rhodesian High Court cases debating the legality of UDI came to a close five months later on 13 September. A panel of judges headed by Sir Hugh Beadle ruled UDI, the 1965 constitution and Smith's government to be "de jure", prompting the UK Commonwealth Secretary George Thomson to accuse them of breaching "the fundamental laws of the land".