§ 12. Major MILNERasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the law relating to conscription in Kenya Colony includes the oath of allegiance to His Majesty the King?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThe Kenya Defence Force Ordinance, to which I presume the hon. and gallant Member refers, does not provide for the taking of an oath of allegiance.
§ Major MILNERCan the right hon. Gentleman say why not, and whether the recruitment of a conscript force holding no allegiance to His Majesty has the approval of the Government?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTEREvery citizen of this country or of any dependency of the Crown owes allegiance to His Majesty, but the question of the particular oath of allegiance to be taken by this force was carefully gone into at the time, and I can send to the hon. and gallant Member a note of the answer given at the time, giving the reasons.
§ Major MILNERCan the right hon. Gentleman say what is the object of the recruitment of this force? Is it to overawe the natives?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERNo, most certainly not. The object of the recruitment of civilians in this force is the same now as it was when the Labour Government were in office.
§ 14. Mr. MORGAN JONES(for Mr. DAGGAR) asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why some 200 male British residents in Kenya Colony have been taken to a detention camp for refusal to observe the requirements of the Kenya Defence Force Ordinance, seeing that the Ordinance provides for the exemption of conscientious objectors?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI am informed by the Governor of Kenya that there is no foundation for the rumour to which the hon. Member refers.