HC Deb 03 December 1952 vol 508 cc1554-5
39. Mr. J. Johnson

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why there was a three months delay in appointing the new Governor of Kenya.

Mr. Lyttelton

When the timetable for the departure of Sir Philip Mitchell and the arrival of Sir Evelyn Baring in Kenya was arranged early this year, there was no reason to expect Mau Mau outbreaks on the scale on which they later took place and plans were therefore made in the usual way which allowed for a limited interregnum.

Sir Philip Mitchell left Kenya on the 21st June. In the middle of August the Officer Administering the Government reported that the situation was deteriorating and that he would shortly be introducing measures to deal with it. Sir Evelyn Baring's arrival in Kenya could not usefully have been advanced and I had full confidence in the very capable Officer Administering the Government.

Mr. Johnson

Is the Minister aware that many people believe that he was ill-informed about the state of affairs in Kenya at that time, and that many, both inside and outside the House, believe that much of the mischief now occurring in Kenya was due to the panicking measures of the acting Governor in this interregnum?

Mr. Lyttelton

There is absolutely no justification whatever for the statement which the hon. Gentleman has made. The panicking measures to which he refers have now long ago been superseded by much more drastic measures which have proved to be necessary.

Mr. Stokes

May I ask why it was that there was such a delay between the retirement of Sir Philip Mitchell and his replacement by Sir Evelyn Baring?

Mr. Lyttelton

There is nearly always an interregnum between the departure of the retiring Governor and the arrival of the new one. [HON. MEMBERS: "Why?"] That can be gone into another time. There are many reasons for it. The chief reason is that the Colony has to pay twice. Since this particular incident happened, I have taken measures to reduce the period of this interregnum.