§ 24. Mr. Sorensenasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of the anxiety among inhabitants of Nigeria respecting the effect of the produce pool agreement recently entered into by European merchants; and whether he will make available the terms of this agreement?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreI have received no reports in the sense indicated in the first part of the hon. Member's question. I understand that the purchase and export 1953 of the Nigerian cocoa crop is proceeding as usual. As regards the second part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on 16th December to a similar question by my hon. Friend the Member for Lincoln (Mr. Liddall).
§ Mr. SorensenWill the right hon. Gentleman take this assurance that in fact there is considerable disagreement among the natives in this part of Africa regarding this projected arrangement, and will he make further investigations, in view of the considerable apprehension that exists?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreI fully realise the considerable apprehension that exists on the Gold Coast, but not in Nigeria, and the matter is receiving attention.
§ Mr. SorensenWill the right hon. Gentleman take any information that I send to him?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreCertainly.