31. Mrs. Whiteasked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations why the Prime Ministers of the Gold Coast and Malta and of other Territories which, while not yet enjoying full self-government, have reached an advanced stage of Ministerial responsibility, were not invited to attend the Commonwealth Conference, in view of the fact that the Prime Minister of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland was so invited.
§ Mr. Dodds-ParkerI would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Prime Minister to a Question by the right hon. Member for West Bromwich (Mr. Dugdale) on 14th December.
Mrs. WhiteIs the Minister aware that the singling out of the Federal Prime Minister could be taken as an indication that Her Majesty's Government favour those in the Rhodesias who are calling for amalgamation, instead of federation of these Territories with full self-government? Secondly, has the hon. Gentleman read the leading article in "The Times" on the subject this morning, and would he state categorically that Her Majesty's Government have no intention of trying to establish a two-tier system in the Commonwealth of first and second-class self-governing nations?
§ Mr. Dodds-ParkerIt is not for me to anticipate, but it has been frequently made clear by my right hon. Friends that that is not the intention of Her Majesty's Government. As to the invitation to Sir 1965 Godfrey Huggins, that invitation was sent in view of the concern of the Federation in many of the matters which will be under consideration. As Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia, he was invited several times to attend Prime Ministers' meetings by this and the previous Administration.
32. Mrs. Whiteasked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations which items to be discussed at the Commonwealth Conference concern the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.
§ Mr. Dodds-ParkerIt is not the practice to disclose in detail the matters for discussion at meetings of Commonwealth Prime Ministers.