§ 31. Sir Leslie Plummerasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will cause an inquiry to be made into the proposed expulsion by the Northern Rhodesian Government from Northern Rhodesia of Mr. S. B. Zukas, Secretary of the Anti-Federation Action Commitee, and the only European member of that body; and, pending the results of that inquiry, if he will take the necessary steps to prevent the threatened expulsion taking place.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydNo, Sir. The recommendation that Mr. Zukas should be deported was made by the Northern Rhodesian High Court as the result of a judicial inquiry. Evidence was brought at this inquiry which satisfied the court that Mr. Zukas had conducted himself so as to be a danger to peace and good order in the territory and my right hon. Friend sees no need for further inquiry. It is now for the Governor to decide whether or not to act on the recommendation of the court, and he will not seek to influence his decision.
§ Sir L. PlummerDoes not the right hon. Gentleman know that the activities of Mr. Zukas were directed towards organising opposition to Central African 392 federation, and does this decision now mean that any European who opposes Central African federation is in danger of expulsion from Northern Rhodesia?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI think that the hon. Gentleman must himself know that that is by no means an accurate observation. Anybody is free, naturally, to oppose, or to support—as does the majority of this House—the principle of federation. What this individual did was to urge a political strike against federation, and the non-payment of taxes against federation—[HON. MEMBERS: "Why not?"]—and thus use political weapons in a matter of this kind. It was the view of the authorities in Northern Rhodesia, with which view we are in entire agreement, that the action taken was the right and proper action to take.
§ Mr. James GriffithsSince I gather from the Minister that it was incitement to violence for which Mr. Zukas is to be deported, may I ask whether it is the intention of the Governor and the Secretary of State to take action against the writer in the "Livingstone Mail" who used these words:
I am inclined to add that it is a great pity we could not have hired a mobile gestapo unit to eliminate him"—that is Mr. Zukas—without fuss one dark night."?In view of the absolute necessity for the Government to hold themselves impartial in matters of this kind, is it proposed to deport the writer of those words?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI entirely agree with the right hon. Gentleman. Any attempt to influence the court ought to be proceeded against with the utmost vigour. Two European newspapers have been charged with attempting to influence the court against Mr. Zukas, and one, the "Livingstone Mail." has been convicted and fined.
§ Mr. GriffithsIt is not only important that action should be taken, but it is of the utmost importance in this situation in Central Africa that justice should appear to be done equally to all sides. Since the action recommended to be taken against Mr. Zukas is to deport him, does not the Minister intend to take the same action against the writer of this article?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI will look into that. I think the right hon. Gentleman will agree that in this case, as in all 393 cases, the Administration acted impartially in coming down severely against any attempt to influence the court; and had the right hon. Gentleman had the responsibility, through the Government, for good government in Northern Rhodesia he would have come to precisely the same conclusion as did Her Majesty's present advisers.
§ Mr. GriffithsI must press this, because it is of the utmost importance. I know all the difficulties. I wish to ask the Minister if he will consult his right hon. Friend and the Governor and indicate, what I think would be the view generally held in this country, that it is very important indeed that the same kind of action shall be taken by the Government towards people committing the same offence whatever race they may belong to?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI entirely agree with the observations of the right hon. Gentleman, but surely we must distinguish here between an attempt to encourage direct and violent action about which quite proper action, in our view, has been taken against Mr. Zukas, and an attempt to influence the decision of the court. Regarding the attempt to influence the court, the Africans who telegraphed to the Chief Justice saying that a certain decision should be reached have been fined and the newspapers that published the articles urging stronger action against Mr. Zukas have also been fined; so that there does appear to have been entirely similar treatment. The action against Mr. Zukas is due to his direct encouragement to produce civil terrorism, and we give the utmost support to the action to be taken.
§ Mr. GriffithsMay I once more call the attention of the Minister to these words:
I am inclined to add that it is a great pity we could not have hired a mobile gestapo unit to eliminate him without fuss one dark night."?This is an incitement to murder. Surely in a case of this kind the action should be comparable?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydIf the right hon. Gentleman will send me that particular cutting I will have a look at it. What I wish to assure him about is that whether it was a newspaper or an African who had been attempting to influence the decision of the court, they should be treated 394 in exactly the same way. They have so been treated. But if the right hon. Gentleman has evidence of another kind which he has now read out, and if he will submit it to me, I will most certainly look into it.
§ Mr. GriffithsI will submit it.
§ Sir L. PlummerIn view of the unsatisfactory nature of the Minister's answers, I beg to give notice that I shall endeavour to raise this matter as soon as possible.