§ 12. Mr. A. Fenner Brockwayasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why Mr. Ignatius Musazi was detained on arrival in Uganda from Britain on 22nd January; and what are the Uganda Government's intentions in respect of him.
§ Mr. J. GriffithsI informed the House on 31st January of the circumstances that led to Mr. Musazi's detention. I am now glad to be able to say that the Governor has decided, with my concurrence, not to deport Mr. Musazi, but to keep him under light restraint at Moyo, a township in the Northern Province of Uganda, where he will be able to be accompanied by his family and, subject to reasonable conditions, to see his friends and associates. The Governor and I hope that it will prove possible to help Mr. Musazi to realise that Government policy and intentions are designed soly for the welfare of the people of Uganda. We hope that he will thereby become convinced of the desirability of working with, rather than against, the Government in the interests of the country and that it will then be possible to release him from all forms of restraint.
§ Mr. BrockwayMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman despite his use of the word "detention," whether it is not a fact that Mr. Musazi has been deported to a northern province, and to a village on the Sudan frontier, by an order—a copy of which I have in my hand—which refers to the fact that he has been deported? Can he say whether the charges against Mr. Musazi are not those of taking part in the disturbances of 1949 when, in fact, he was in this country, and whether the Government do not now recognise that his organisation—
§ Mr. KirkwoodWell it is a good speech.
§ Mr. Brockway—is constructively aiming at building a co-operative organisation? In view of those facts will the right hon. Gentleman reconsider his decision?
§ Mr. GriffithsI do not want, at this stage, to go over the past history of this case, about which I have already answered many Questions in the House. The organisation to which my hon. Friend has referred is now showing signs of co-operating with the Government, and it is our very anxious desire that that co-operation shall develop. It is my hope, for the reasons that I have given in my answer, that in the not too distant future it will be possible to remove all restraint upon Mr. Musazi, and in view of that I would rather not re-hash this matter.
§ Mr. AwberyHas my right hon. Friend received any evidence from non-official European sources in Uganda supporting the action of the Government? Is it not a fact that the Bishop of Uganda and other leading Europeans have expressed confidence in Mr. Musazi?
§ Mr. GriffithsI do not wish to go into the history of this matter.
§ Mr. RankinIs my right hon. Friend aware that the Co-operative Party, which represents a considerable section of opinion in this country, has made inquiries into this business and finds that Mr. Musazi is completely vindicated?
§ Mr. GriffithsThis matter arose quite a considerable time ago. There was an inquiry and the findings of the inquiry were accepted by my predecessor. That was announced in this House. I say again, to hon. Members on both sides, that I think there is a possibility of this matter ending satisfactorily. That being so, I do not want to pursue it any farther.
§ Mr. BrockwayIn view of the right hon. Gentleman's only partially satisfactory answer, I wish to give notice that I will raise this matter on the Adjournment, and, further, that I will take advantage of the Ten Minutes Rule procedure to introduce a Bill to withdraw these Hitlerian and Stalinian powers of deportation from Colonial Governors.
§ Mr. GriffithsNo, Sir, I do not. I may say that I am myself examining, not only in Uganda but in all Colonial Territories, the policy of deportation.