§ 16. Mr. Swinglerasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the import and circulation of the revised edition, particulars of which have been supplied to him, of "The Trial of Jomo Kenyatta," by Montagu Slater, have been prohibited in Kenya.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThis book deals with the trial of Jomo Kenyatta in a manner which, in the opinion of the Governor in Council, makes its importation and circulation undesirable in the public interest.
§ Mr. SwinglerThat is a very different answer from what was said in June. Is not the Secretary of State aware that when the Minister of State was asked this question in June, the sole reason he gave for the banning of this book was that it named certain prosecution witnesses whose names had been withheld at the trial? That is on record in HANSARD as the answer he gave. How is it, when the publishers are now taking the trouble to withdraw the prosecution witnesses' names and substitute pseudonyms, that the Governor produces a quite different and political reason?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydIt was a pity—and I take full responsibility for it—that not all the various blemishes in this book were taken out at the same time. One has undoubtedly been removed, but others remain, and I fully support the Governor's action.