§ 41. Mr. William Teelingasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he approved the speech of the Governor of Sarawak, made at the first session of the Sarawak State Council, in which he stated that the decision on cession was final and referred to many of the inhabitants as ignorant and uneducated.
Mr. Creech JonesThe Governor did not refer the text of his speech to me before he made it and I see no reason why he should have done so. But the reference to the decision on cession was no doubt based on the message to the Governor which I mentioned in my written reply to the hon. Member for London University (Sir E. Graham-Little) on 26th November.
§ Mr. TeelingMay I ask the Minister if, in view of the fact that in the deed of cession there is a clause whereby the former position can be restored or changed by His Majesty the King, presumably if the Privy Council advises that that should be done, and in view of the fact that the 1953 Governor must have known that there is a possibility of the Privy Council being approached on this matter, is it not grossly improper that the Governor should make statements like that to people whom he himself calls ignorant and uneducated?
Mr. Creech JonesI should have thought he was perfectly within his rights to make such a statement. The cession has been concluded constitutionally, and, therefore, he was entitled to make it perfectly clear that this matter was no longer open.
§ Mr. TeelingIs it not a fact that it is not final but that it can be revoked if the Privy Council should consider that the action of the Government was not correct?
Mr. Creech JonesCertainly it is always open for someone to challenge the decision that has been taken.
§ Mr. Skeffington-LodgeIs the Minister aware that on the instructions of the Governor there has recently been some serious interference with the free expression of opinion of the inhabitants of this Colony?