§ 12. Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the Government of Southern Rhodesia proposes to remove 113,000 Africans from Crown land and alienated land in the European area; and whether, in the light of this, he will reconsider his policy of federating Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland to Southern Rhodesia.
§ Mr. LytteltonThe resettlement programme of the Southern Rhodesian Government is a matter for my noble Friend the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations. In any case, since land and land settlement remain the responsibility of the territorial Governments, under the Draft Federal Scheme I see no connection between this and the second part of the Question, to which the answer is: "No, Sir."
§ Mr. RankinIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in Southern Rhodesia the South African policy of apartheid is being applied and the native peoples are being separated from the whites? Does he think that will inspire confidence among the Africans in Nyasaland and Northern Rhodesia in the proposals for federation?
§ Mr. LytteltonThis question appears to me to be designed to raise prejudice against Southern Rhodesia in relation to federation, and it is a suggestion which I must unequivocally reject.
§ Mr. SorensenOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Is not this the same subject as that embodied in my Question No. 94 to the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations? Why should the subject be divided in this way?