§ 21. Mr. Platts-Millsasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what reports he has received of unrest among any of the native peoples of Africa, consequent upon the passing of the Citizenship Act by the South African Parliament; and if he proposes to advise all colonial Governments that His Majesty's Government would be strongly opposed to the introduction of similar legislation in any British colony.
§ Mr. Rees-WilliamsNo such reports have reached me, and I see no necessity for any such communication to colonial Governments. In colonial territories, where the British Nationality Act, 1948, establishing a common citizenship for the United Kingdom and these territories applies, no question of passing similar legislation can arise.
§ Mr. Platts-MillsThat being so, does the Minister intend to wash his hands of this gross manifestation of nationalism and racialism, as though it did not exist in the Empire at all?
§ 26. Mr. Skinnardasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of legislation denying full citizenship rights to British settlers in the Union of South Africa, he will take corresponding action aganst Afrikaner immigrants who, in large numbers, have entered and are entering Northern Rhodesia and Kenya.
§ Mr. Rees-WilliamsI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Maldon (Mr. Driberg) by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations on 30th June, which fully explained the position regarding the recent South African legislation; with regard to the latter part of the Question, the answer is "No, Sir."
§ Mr. SkinnardIs it not a fact that rather heavy emigration of Afrikaners has taken place, which may alter the whole position of Northern Rhodesia and Kenya and even racial characteristics?
§ Mr. Rees-WilliamsThere has been a fairly heavy immigration into Northern Rhodesia, but not quite so heavy into Kenya in the last two or three years, but, also, a large number of people have left those territories.