HC Deb 15 June 1955 vol 542 cc588-9
46. Mr. Brockway

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies on what grounds the importation and circulation of "The Trial of Jomo Kenyatta," by Montague Slater, has been prohibited in Kenya.

The Minister of State for Colonial Affairs (Mr. Henry Hopkinson)

The importation and circulation of this book were considered by the Governor in Council to be contrary to the public interest.

Mr. Brockway

Do the Government endorse this view that the English-reading people in Kenya are so non-adult that they cannot judge for themselves when they read a book of this character? Will the right hon. Gentleman himself examine this book, and come to the conclusion that it is an objective account of this trial which ought to be permitted wide circulation?

Mr. Hopkinson

The reason this book was banned was that it discloses the names, addresses and particulars of prosecution witnesses which were withheld at the trial by leave of the court and must still be withheld to protect the witnesses' lives. In these circumstances the Government see no reason whatever to intervene.