HC Deb 23 June 1954 vol 529 cc395-7
2. Mr. Harold Davies

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what evidence he has on the number of the Masai tribe who have taken Mau Mau oaths.

Mr. Lyttelton

According to reports from screening teams, about 500 Masai with close Kikuyu connections have taken the Mau Mau oath voluntarily and about 100 pure bred Masai have reported that they were forced to take it by Kikuyu terrorists.

Mr. Davies

Does the right hon. Gentleman not think the time has come to approach this problem from a different point of view from that of ruthlessness? The disease of Mau Mau is now spreading outside Kenya itself and this seems evidence to that effect.

Mr. Lyttelton

I do not know on what the hon. Member bases that statement. It is quite true that a Kikuyu gang penetrated into Tanganyika, but that is not a spreading of Mau Mau movement but of a gang.

Mr. J. Griffiths

Will the right hon. Gentleman take an early opportunity of making a full statement assessing the present position in Kenya and making proposals for the future, since it is some time since we had a full statement?

Mr. Lyttelton

I think I can give the right hon. Member an assurance that before the House rises, within the next week or two, I will make a full statement on the position.

Mr. E. Wakefield

Further to the question put by the right hon. Member, is my right hon. Friend aware that there are no fewer than 20 Questions on the Order Paper today relating to Kenya? Would it not be much more satisfactory if we could have a general debate on this subject? May I also remind my right hon. Friend that a Parliamentary delegation of all parties visited Kenya earlier in the year and has not yet had an opportunity, even in individual capacity, of expressing its views?

Mr. Lyttelton

That is not a matter for me.

Mr. Griffiths

Would the right hon. Gentleman consult the Leader of the House? It is a long time since we had an opportunity for a full discussion. The Government ought to afford time for a debate.

Mr. Lyttelton

The right hon. Member asked if I would make a statement, but he now asks for a debate.

Mr. Griffiths

We could have that, too.

Mr. Hale

The right hon. Gentleman took a very courageous step some months ago in sending "General China" to negotiate in circumstances of some difficulty and he was applauded from this side of the House. Will he now consider summoning an all-party conference on Kenya to consider the dreadful situation there, to discuss means of bringing this emergency to an end and use the services of all people of good mind in this country who are anxious to help him in the matter?

Mr. Lyttelton

No, Sir, I could not agree to an all-party conference at present.