§ 42. Mr. Lunnasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the instructions to the committee which has been set up in Kenya Colony on the demarcation of the so-called White Highlands include, in view of the desire of some owners to sell to Indians, a recommendation that land may be offered for sale or lease to Indians as well as to Europeans?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreI am not aware that any such committee has been appointed; and the remaining parts of the question do not, therefore, arise.
58. Mr. Creech Jonesasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether an Order in Council will be made in respect to the European Highlands in Kenya; if so, when, and what proposals will be embodied in it; and will he make a statement on his policy in regard to the whole matter of land tenure and ownership?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreYes, Sir, I propose to submit an Order for the approval of HIE; Majesty in Council at an early date after I have received the observations of the Governor of Kenya to whom the matter has been referred. In brief, it is proposed that the Order shall contain a definition of the Highlands and that it shall provide for the establishment of a board to advise the Governor in matters relating to the disposal of land within the defined Highlands area. As regards the last part of the question, the policy of Government is summarised in their conclusions on the Kenya Land Commission Report as stated in Command Paper No. 4580 of 1934, to which I have nothing to add.
Mr. Creech JonesWhen this Order is made, will it include racial discrimination in so far as the Indian inhabitants of Kenya are concerned; will it involve administrative discrimination if not legal discrimination; and, further, will it mean that the policy of the Government will be the complete exclusion from the European Highlands of all those natives who have an ancestral claim in the land?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreI should like the hon. Member to put down all those very difficult questions. I cannot possibly answer them now.