HC Deb 09 March 1955 vol 538 cc437-8
22. Mr. Swingler

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies on what grounds Mr. Harry Nkumbula and Mr. Kenneth Kaonde, president and secretary, respectively, of the North Rhodesian African Congress, have been imprisoned.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

They were convicted of being in possession of prohibited publications.

Mr. Swingler

Of what publications and quantities of publications were they in possession? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, as I understand it, they were in possession of certain specimen copies of Communist literature which had been sent from this country, and of certain other literature from this country which is on the prohibited list in Northern Rhodesia? Is he also aware that the upshot of all this has been enormously to increase the membership of the African Congress?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

As to the second part of that question, I have no reason to believe that that is so. The next Question on the Paper, which I am answering, deals with the first part.

Mr. J. Johnson

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the case of these two gentlemen raises the whole matter of the movement of African leaders inside the Federation? Not only were these two gentlemen stopped from going to Salisbury but even people like Mr. Joseph Sangala is not allowed to leave Nyasaland to go to Northern Rhodesia. Is that a sensible policy to carry out in Central Africa?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

That is quite another question.