79 and 80. Captain GUESTasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) why he has disbanded the settlers defence force in Kenya Colony;
§ (2) what is the difference in the constitution of the territorial organisation he has set up in. Kenya instead of the settlers defence force; and whether the new force is voluntary enlistment or compulsory?
Mr. J. H. THOMASThe Kenya Defence Force has not yet been disbanded nor has anything been set up in its place. I have agreed that the European man power of the Colony could most efficiently be utilised, and the general security of Kenya best be served, by replacing the defence force, which is not satisfactory from a military point of view, by a Territorial Force on a voluntary basis. It is however proposed to establish a reserve in which Europeans not in the Force or in the King's African Rifles Reserve of officers would be required to enrol. Legislation will be required to effect any change, and the unofficial community will have to be consulted.
81. Captain GUESTasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why Lord Francis Scott and Major F. Cavendish Bentinck, the two elected members for Kenya Colony, who serve on the executive council of his Excellency the Governor of that Colony, have resigned; and whether their resignation is in any way connected with his instructions, issued a few days ago, to disband the Kenya settlers defence force and replace it by a different organization?
Mr. THOMASMy only information is contained in a telegram from Lord Francis Scott, in which he stated that he and Major Cavendish Bentinck had resigned from the executive council on the ground that the representatives of the European community had not been consulted prior to the publication of my suggestions regarding the Defence Force.
Captain GUESTMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman to realise that the Commandant of the Kenya Defence Force, himself a distinguished soldier, was never informed of this programme and that his aide de camp was ignored also?