§ 33. Squadron-Leader Kinghornasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he can now make a statement about the recent consultations in London between His Majesty's Government and representatives of the Government of Southern Rhodesia.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations (Mr. Gordon Walker)A full series of discussions was held with the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance of Southern Rhodesia during their recent visit to this country. The talks covered a wide field, but were mainly exploratory. The main subjects were: the prospective balance of payments of Southern Rhodesia; the general economic position of the Colony; port and transport facilities; and long-term industrial and agricultural development schemes.
§ Squadron-Leader KinghornWhile thanking my hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask whether any practical steps have been taken towards giving access to this land-locked Colony out to the Atlantic from Walfish Bay?
§ Mr. Gordon WalkerNo practical immediate steps have been taken towards solving that very important problem, because certain prior steps have to be taken, concerned with the fact that such a railway would run through non-Southern Rhodesian territory, and that a detailed survey is necessary. We 1181 discussed this matter very carefully with the Southern Rhodesian Ministers at a meeting at which I was in the Chair. We have offered to send experts out to them, if we are invited to do so directly they have concluded the preliminary steps.