HC Deb 30 January 1952 vol 495 cc180-2
32. Mr. Fenner Brockway

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what has been the purpose of the recent conference of the Governors from Southern and Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland.

Mr. Lyttelton

His Majesty's Government have received from or through the Governments of the three Central African territories a number of criticisms and objections to the federation proposals formulated by the London conference of officials in March, 1951. They were therefore glad to accept the suggestion made by the Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia that he should come here to discuss the proposals further with His Majesty's Government. The Governors of Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland have also come to advise me, and are taking part in the talks. The talks are not a conference between Governments: they are designed to elucidate points that have arisen since the conference held at Victoria Falls in September last.

Mr. Brockway

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these talks, in the absence of African representatives, have further intensified African opposition to the scheme, and that the statement of the Premier of Southern Rhodesia that he wishes to decrease the safeguards to the Africans will, in effect, kill the federation proposal?

Mr. Lyttelton

I am not aware of any such thing, and I cannot, of course, answer for anything which the Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia says.

Mr. James Griffiths

Did I correctly gather from the original reply of the right hon. Gentleman that the Governors of Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland came to put criticisms of the plan before him at the conference and, if so, on whose behalf did they put forward the criticisms? May I also ask whether he proposes to let this House know the specific proposals put forward by the Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia in regard to the plan so that hon. Members have them before them when there is a debate on the matter?

Mr. Lyttelton

The Governors of Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland came to advise me about the various objections raised in their territories to the original proposals. When these talks conclude the Government will issue a communique, and if that does not satisfy the right hon. Gentleman I will try to give him satisfaction in other ways.

Mr. Griffiths

On the first count, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman if the Governors, making representations criti- cising the London proposals, conveyed the criticism of sections of the community in those territories or only of one? I understood that the talks were already concluded, and that is why I asked for a statement.

Mr. Lyttelton

I could not answer the first question. These objections came from various quarters by no means all European or all African. The talks are still continuing.