§ 23. Mr. F. ANDERSONasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has considered the resolution passed by the Kenya Indian conference expressing alarm over the contemplated Order in Council prohibiting the acquisition of land in the Kenya highlands by Indians; and whether, in view of this and other expressions of Indian opposition, he will refrain from passing this Order in Council?
Mr. J. H. THOMASThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, as I stated in reply to the hon. Member for Basingstoke (Mr. Drummond-Wolff) on 1367 the 26th February, it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to issue an Order in Council to define the Kenya highlands.
§ 27. Mr. PALINGasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the difficulties which have delayed the issue of an Order in Council defining the Kenya Highlands; and whether, in view of such difficulties, His Majesty's Government will reconsider the policy stated in the White Paper on this subject?
Mr. THOMASThe Order-in-Council has been delayed in order that its terms may be carefully considered and that it may be drafted so as to carry out the policy of His Majesty's Government fully and explicitly. That policy has been stated in the White Paper, and it is not proposed to deviate from it.
§ Mr. PALINGDo I understand that it is proposed to carry out the policy of reserving these highlands for whites, and excluding the natives?
Mr. THOMASI am afraid my hon. Friend is mixing two questions. It is not a question of excluding the natives; it is a question of defining very clearly what has been in existence for a great number of years, so as to leave no doubt or ambiguity as to what is meant by this boundary.
§ Mr. PALINGDid not the Commission report that these highlands should be given to the white people, that natives should not have access to them, and that, so far as they are on them at the present time, they should be removed; and is not that removal the cause of the difficulty which the right hon. Gentleman is experiencing at the present time?
Mr. THOMASNo; I am afraid that, as I have said, my hon. Friend is mixing two questions. The difficulty is not on account of the natives, but it is a case in which certain Indian subjects take one view and the highlanders another, and what I propose to do is so to define the boundary as to leave no doubt or ambiguity, and to make it quite clear that we are continuing the policy set out in the White Paper.
§ Mr. PALINGThen there is no question of altering the policy of keeping the highlands for white people exclusively? Is that policy going to be carried out?