EUROPEAN HIGHLANDS. (Hansard, 10 November 1937)

Mr. Creech Jones
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether Government policy, as proposed in the new Order in Council on the subject of the European Highlands in Kenya, involves either legal or administrative discrimination against Indians and Africans; whether Italians, Germans and Portuguese will be subject to the same discrimination; and whether, in pursuance of this policy and not for good administrative reasons, the few Africans attached to their ancestral lands will continue to be compulsorily removed?

§ Mr. Ormsby-Gore
It is not intended that the Order in Council defining the boundaries of the Highlands area shall include any provision involving legal or administrative discrimination on the basis of race or nationality in connection with the occupation of land in that area. The issue of the Order will, therefore, not affect the policy which has been followed since 1906, as set out in Command Paper 1922 of 1923. The Kenya Land Commission framed what they recommended as a comprehensive and final settlement of Kenya's land problems, and from an administrative point of view such a settlement is of the first importance.

Mr. Creech Jones
Am I to take it that it will be possible for Indians to purchase land in the European Highlands, or, alternatively, will any kind of administrative discrimination operate as far as that district is concerned?

§ Mr. Ormsby-Gore
I must refer the hon. Member to the terms of the White Paper issued in 1922, since when there has been no change.

§ Colonel Wedgwood
Does not that mean that the Indians will still be unable to get land there while Italians, Germans and Portuguese will be able to get it?

§ Mr. Ormsby-Gore
The right hon. and gallant Gentleman knows that this has been the practice since 1906 under successive Governments. I propose to make no change.

Mr. Creech Jones
Will the right hon. Gentleman reply to the last clause in my question?

§ Mr. Ormsby-Gore
As I understand it, the whole point is whether any rights to ancestral lands are involved. The Morris Carter Commission are clearly satisfied that in the area in question there are no claims to ancestral lands which in their opinion are valid.