HC Deb 15 December 1954 vol 535 cc1741-2
1. Mr. Swingler

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the import and circulation of the monthly journal "Socialist Asia" are considered to be contrary to the public interest in Kenya.

The Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. Alan Lennox-Boyd)

By reason of the inflammatory nature of its contents. In particular, exception was taken to an article on the report of the Parliamentary Delegation to Kenya (Cmd. 9081). A further consideration was the incorporation in that magazine of material issued by the Anti-Colonial Bureau of the Asiatic Socialist Conference.

Mr. Swingler

Is the Secretary of State aware that this highly reputable organ of the Asian Socialist Party is published in Rangoon; and that all that Mr. George Padmore did, in the article to which the right hon. Gentleman refers, was to review the report of the M.P.s who went to Kenya? A reading of this article reveals that he went no further than Members of this House went in their report on the Kenya situation, and, therefore, what is the reason for stopping its circulation?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I do not in the least accept what the hon. Gentleman has said. There was very contentious matter indeed in this article, which was calculated still further to increase the difficulties in Kenya.

Mr. Bottomley

Would not the Minister agree that we shall have to tackle this matter in Kenya very effectively, and that that will not be done by stopping literature going in, or keeping people in prison, and that he should really seek more African leadership?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I am surprised that the right hon. Gentleman, with his background knowledge of this matter, should think that it can be solved so easily as that.

Mr. Alport

Is my right hon. Friend aware that some members of the Parliamentary Delegation take as great exception to the article as do the Government of Kenya?

Mr. Swingler

Will the right hon. Gentleman put in the Library of the House a copy of this particular journal, so that all Members of the House may have an opportunity of judging what the nature of it was?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

Certainly.

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