HC Deb 10 May 1939 vol 347 cc467-8
35. Mr. Edmund Harvey

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether arrangements have been made for the publication at an early date of the report of the Commission of Inquiry with regard to the settlement of refugees in British Guiana; and whether any decision has been reached with regard to the recommendations of the Commission?

38. Mr. Riley

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has now received the report of the British Government representatives who recently visited British Guiana to investigate the advisability of settling refugees in that territory; and, if so, will he consider placing a copy of the report in the Library of the House of Commons?

Mr. M. MacDonald

The report has been printed as a White Paper and copies will be available in the Vote Office for Members this evening. It is addressed to the United States President's Advisory Committee on Political Refugees, and is being carefully considered by the refugee organisations here and in America. His Majesty's Government, who are in touch with the refugee organisation in this country, are also giving the report active consideration, and expect to be in a position to make a statement at a very early date.

Mr. Harvey

Will the right hon. Gentleman be able to issue a further White Paper when the Government's decision has been reached?

Mr. MacDonald

I doubt whether a White Paper would be necessary. I think a statement at this Box would be all that would be required.

Mr. T. Williams

May I ask whether, side by side with the publication of the report, the memoranda provided by the experts will also be published, and is it not the case that the experts expressed very grave doubts about the possibility of large-scale immigration into British Guiana owing to the climatic conditions, lack of fertility of the soil, and lack of communications there?

Mr. MacDonald

Various reports by experts were considered, in conjunction with the experts, by the Commission in drawing up their final report, and the report which will be published as a White Paper this afternoon will contain the views of the Commission after carefully examining those individual reports. With regard to the reports of the experts, we anticipate publishing them in a separate document as early as possible afterwards.

Mr. T. Williams

Before the Government make up their mind on the report, will copies of the experts' memoranda be made available to Members of the House?

Mr. Hannah

Do not experts always damp down enthusiasm?

Mr. Crossley

Is it not surprising that so many representatives of the refugees should run down the efforts of the British Government to settle refugees in British Guiana?

Mr. MacDonald

In considering their policy the Government will, of course, take careful account of the experts' reports. These will be published as soon as it is physically possible to produce them. With regard to the general question, His Majesty's Government have considerable hopes of the settlement possibilities in British Guiana.