§ 48. Sir R. Aclandasked the Prime Minister whether the statement made in Accra by the Secretary of State for the Colonies on the conditions on which Dominion status could be granted to new parts of the Commonwealth represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.
§ The Prime MinisterMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies has informed me that he made it clear in his discussions in the Gold Coast that while the grant to Colonies dependent upon the United Kingdom of responsible self-government within the Commonwealth is a matter for the United Kingdom Government and the territory concerned, if any question were to arise of the admission of a Colony to full and independent membership of the Commonwealth all existing members would be consulted. This is in accordance with the views of the United Kingdom Government.
§ Sir R. AclandWhilst appreciating that all would be consulted, would the Prime Minister take notice that the B.B.C. reported the right hon. Gentleman as saying that the grant of Dominion status would require the common consent of all existing Dominions and that the statement in that form would imply not merely that the Dominions would be consulted but that, for example, Dr. Malan would have a power of veto? Is not that report going a little bit further than the accepted position?
§ The Prime Minister1 do not think there is any change in the policy which Her Majesty's Government pursue from what was the policy in the late Government. I see that the late Secretary of 779 State for Commonwealth Relations on 7th June last, a year ago, said in reply to a similar Question:
Whilst the United Kingdom Government alone carry the responsibility for internal constitutional developments in Colonies dependent upon the United Kingdom, we recognise the interest of the Governments of other members of the Commonwealth, and it is our practice to keep them informed of major developments in that sphere. Were any question of admission to full and independent membership of the Commonwealth to arise, all existing members would, following past practice, be consulted.In reply to a further supplementary question, he said:We must make quite clear the distinction between the grant of responsible self-government within the Commonwealth, which is a matter for the United Kingdom Government and the territory concerned, and for them alone, and the question of becoming a full member of the Commonwealth, which is of course a matter for all members of the Commonwealth. All steps towards responsible self-government within the Commonwealth are a matter between us and the territory concerned, and we must make that distinction quite clear and abide by it."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 7th June, 1951; Vol. 488, c. 1199.]Her Majesty's present Government endorse that.
§ Mr. J. GriffithsWhile welcoming the Prime Minster's reaffrmation of what has been the policy of successive Governments, that the right to grant self-government and the degree of self-government to Colonies is the prerogative of Her Majesty's Government and not of any other Government, may I ask the Prime Miinster whether, in view of circumstances in South Africa he will consider the desirability of making it clear that when Her Majesty's Government come to consider the problem of Dominion status, no single member of the Dominion would have a veto upon the granting of even that status?
§ The Prime MinisterThat is going further, in defining the action that could be taken in cases which have not yet arisen, than would be advisable at the present time.
§ Mr. GriffithsWhile agreeing that that would be asking the Government at the present moment to go further than Governments have gone in previous months or years, may I ask the Prime Minister to consider, in view of what is happening in Africa and the concern which is felt about that in our British Colonies, 780 whether the time has not come and circumstances do not now warrant going further and giving that undertaking?
§ The Prime MinisterI think in these matters it is very often better to wait until a specific case arises than to endeavour to lay down broad general affirmations so long beforehand.
§ Sir R. AclandHas not the Colonial Secretary, in fact, gone further, at any rate as reported, than the existing understanding in that whereas consultation, as has been previously said, has been accepted on both sides of the House, the right hon. Gentleman implied that common consent was required? Should not that report be corrected if it is wrong?
§ The Prime MinisterI am not conscious of any difference between the views of the present Government and the late Government on this important issue.