HC Deb 23 November 1937 vol 329 cc1020-1
33. Mr. Mander

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether, if and when the transfer of the Protectorates of South Africa takes place, it will be done within the terms set out in the schedule for the South Africa Act?

The Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs (Marquess of Hartington)

His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom do not contemplate that there should be any departure from the general scheme of administration outlined in the Schedule to the South Africa Act and, as I informed the hon. Member in my reply to his question on 2nd November, I have no reason to think that the Union Government would wish to propose any such departure.

36. Mr. Mander

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs under what instrument it would be possible to transfer any of the High Commission territories of South Africa to the Union Government; whether it would be necessary in the first place to annex these territories to the British Crown; and, if so, whether any existing treaty with the native parliaments or rulers has made any provision for such annexation?

Marquess of Hartington

With regard to the first part of the question, Section 151 of the South Africa Act, 1909, gives power to transfer to the Union the government of the Territories in question, but does not provide for their admission into the Union. The answers to the second and third parts of the question are in the negative so far as the Bechuanaland Protectorate and Swaziland are concerned. Basutoland is already a British possession.

Mr. Mander

Is not the legal position that these Protectorates are foreign territory bound to us by treaty?

Marquess of Hartington

The question asks whether there is any treaty with the native parliaments or rulers. There is no such treaty.

39. Mr. Creech Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether, in view of the recent pronouncement of the Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa to the effect that natives must not expect equal authority with the white man, it is still the instruction to British officers in the South African Protectorate to pursue a policy of cooperation with the Union Government for the creation among the Africans of a more conciliatory attitude to the Union?

Marquess of Hartington

The policy of His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom was fully explained in the Aide Memoire of 1935, and they are continuing to act in accordance with that policy.

Mr. Creech Jones

In view of the recent announcement of the Prime. Minister of the Union would it not be a wise move to modify the instructions to British officers in the Protectorate, and would it not be wise further for our own Government to pursue a much more vigorous economic policy of development of these Protectorates?

Mr. Speaker

That must be a matter of opinion.