40. Mr. Macdonaldasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why missionaries of the creed known as Jehovah 2257 Witnesses are not being permitted to enter the Gold Coast, Kenya, the Gambia, Nigeria and Fiji.
§ The Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. James Griffiths)Certain Colonial Governments have imposed restrictions on the entry of representatives of this society, because experience has shown that its teaching may have very harmful results in colonial communities. This is a question which Colonial Governments are best able to judge, and I do not consider that it would be appropriate for me to interfere with their discretion in this matter.
Mr. MacdonaldCan the Secretary of State quote any incidents in the last 10 years which can be attributed to this society, and if so, is he quite certain that they have not been made the scapegoat by some political, religious or other body for such incidents?
§ Mr. GriffithsNo, Sir. It is my desire as Colonial Secretary, and, indeed, of the Colonial Governments, to afford the maximum religious liberty and tolerance. When I first heard of this I went into it carefully myself. I am satisfied that their teaching of opposition to all kinds of authority does create difficulty.