§ 22. Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can give the House any information as to the reasons for the arrest of Thuku, in Kenya Colony, and as to the circumstances which occurred in connection with that arrest?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Edward Wood)I have no information beyond what has been published. The Governor has promised a despatch, and when I have received it I will consider what further announcement can be made.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODWill the hon. Gentleman consider the desirability of asking the Governor what it was Thuku was advocating which brought him into trouble with the police?
§ Mr. WOODWe have asked the Governor for a very full report of the whole proceedings, and obviously that will include the reasons which led to the trouble.
§ Lord H. CAVENDISH -BENTINCKWill the hon. Gentleman consider as to appointing a Committee to inquire into the whole question of native unrest in Kenya?
§ Mr. WOODI have no reason to think that that is necessary. The Noble Lord will be quite mistaken if he infers from this unfortunate episode that there is any native unrest in Kenya.
§ Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCKIs not the hon. Gentleman aware that there is very serious unrest, and, moreover, well-grounded unrest, because no native can have a legal title to land in Kenya Colony?
§ Colonel WEDGWOODWas any damage done to the police or was it only the natives who suffered?
§ Mr. WOODAs far as my information goes, there were no casualties to Government employés. With regard to the question of the Noble Lord, I have no knowledge of the fact he alleges, and I strongly deprecate any suggestion that there is any such discontent as he suggests.