§ 16. Mr. Kelly (for Mr. Ammon)asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will take the necessary steps to bring British Somaliland into the status of a British Colony and its people as British citizens in accordance with their desires?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreThe answer is in the negative. I am not aware of any widespread desire on the part of the inhabitants of British Somaliland for a change of status.
§ Mr. KellyWill not this matter be considered in order to save these people being treated as aliens when they come to this country?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreI do not think that is the case. Inhabitants of a British Protectorate, such as Nigeria, Uganda and Northern Rhodesia, are British-protected persons when outside the three-mile limit.
§ Mr. KellyWill the right hon. Gentleman consider it in view of the fact that the people of this Protectorate themselves desire it, because they have these difficulties to surmount when they come to this country?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreIt raises a very large question. Hitherto it has been considered undesirable to annex a native Protectorate and make it a Colony. It is true that in many cases, such as Nigeria, the capital town, Lagos, is made a Colony, and the rest is maintained as a native Protectorate. That is a device which has been adopted, but the general conversion of Protectorates and protected States into Colonies has not been the policy hitherto advocated.