§ 27. Mr. A. Hendersonasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies on what grounds Mr. Tecle Hawariate, recently Ethiopian delegate to the League of Nations, has been refused permission to reside in Kenya?
§ 29. Lieut.-Commander Fletcherasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies on what grounds Mr. Tecle Hawariate has been refused permission to remain in Kenya?
§ 30. Mr. Noel-Bakerasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies on what grounds the decision has been taken to refuse permission to Mr. Tecle Hawariate, Ethiopian delegate to the League of Nations in 1935, to reside in Kenya?
§ The Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. Ormsby-Gore)In September last 2056 Mr. Tecle Hawariate applied to the Government of Kenya through the Government of Aden, where he was living, for permission to visit the Colony for a period of three months in connection with the purchase of sesame seed. As the visit was to be of a temporary nature, the necessary permission was given. Subsequently, he asked to be allowed to establish himself and his family as permanent residents in the Colony. I understand that permission to do so was, however, refused by the Government of Kenya. His Majesty's Government do not consider that the Governments of British Dependencies bordering on Ethiopia should add to their responsibilities by facilitating the entry into those territories of Ethiopian subjects other than those who may take refuge coming directly from Abyssinia, and to whom it may not be possible to refuse entry. Mr. Tecle Hawariate does not fall within this category. I have seen from a report in the Press that Mr. Hawariate has now left Kenya.
§ Mr. HendersonMight I ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether this gentleman is not of the highest respectability and whether, in view of that fact, it is desirable to refuse the right of asylum to this distinguished gentleman?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreI ought to answer the question, and I reply, on behalf of His Majesty's Government, that there is no objection to Palestine or any British territory, provided it does not immediately border on Ethiopia, in the present circumstances.
§ Mr. HendersonIs there any suggestion that this gentleman intends to carry on activities which would be inconsistent with the right of asylum?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreNo, none at all, but I think it is obviously undesirable, in the general circumstances, and liable to misconstruction.