§ 85. Mr. ORMSBY-GOREasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the despatch received from the acting Governor of Uganda regarding the reactions produced by the Government's White Paper on Native policy in East Africa on Native opinion in Uganda will be published; whether he will also 211 publish the representations of the Governor of Northern Rhodesia regarding the movement for incorporation of that Protectorate in the self-governing colony of Southern Rhodesia; whether, in view of all the developments that have arisen as a result of this memorandum on native policy that document will be submitted with the proposals for closer union in East Africa to the Joint Select Committee of both Houses; when it is proposed to set up this Select Committee; how many Members of each House will be asked to serve on it; and how they will be apportioned between the various parties?
§ Mr. LUNNI have been asked to reply to this question. The despatch from the Acting Governor of Uganda relates to the Command Paper on Closer Union in East Africa, not to the Command Paper on Native Policy. That despatch and despatches on the same subject from the Governors of Kenya and the Tanganyika Territory, and from the High Commissioner for Transport, Kenya and Uganda, are to be communicated to the Joint Committee which will consider the closer union proposals. My Noble Friend is not at present prepared to make any statement as regards the suggestions for a change in the relations between Northern Rhodesia and Southern Rhodesia. It is not yet clear what the proposals are; and as stated by my hon. Friend, the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, on 9th July, the Command Paper on Native Policy will not form one of the subjects for consideration by the Joint Committee on Closer Union, but that document will, of course, be in the possession of the Committee. It is hoped to move shortly, in both Houses, for the appointment of a Joint Committee, but I cannot yet say when this action will be taken nor how the Committee will be composed.
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREWill the hon. Gentleman make an early intimation as to how the Committee is to be composed, and how the representation of both Houses upon it is to be settled, as there are delegations waiting to appear before that Committee, and it is rather hard that they should be put off for so long?
Earl WINTERTONWhen the hon. Gentleman says that the Government are not prepared to make any statement on the subject at an early date, are we to understand that they have not sent a reply to the telegram sent by the whole of the unofficial members of the Northern Rhodesia Legislature and the Governor of Southern Rhodesia on the subject; and, if they have sent a reply, would the hon. Gentleman state what reply was sent?
§ Mr. LUNNI have not said anything in regard to a reply having been sent. What I said was that we were not prepared to make a statement at present with regard to this particular matter. The publication of the papers will be a matter for the Joint Committee.