HC Deb 15 July 1953 vol 517 cc2033-4
33. Mr. Beresford Craddock

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement in regard to the representations he has received from the Government of India concerning the treatment of Africans in British Colonies in Africa.

Mr. Lyttelton

No, Sir. No such representations have been received by the United Kingdom Government.

Mr. Craddock

Will my right hon. Friend say whether his attention has been drawn to a statement made by the Prime Minister of India in a speech at Agra on 6th July in which he said: It is a scandalous thing that the people of Africa are being treated as wild animals, and—[HON. MEMBERS: "Hear, Hear."] It is not true—will he take this opportunity of stating emphatically that such conditions do not obtain in territories in Africa under British rule?

Mr. Lyttelton

Her Majesty's Government categorically reject these misleading and ill-informed remarks about territories in Africa.