§ 72. Mr. Bennasked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will make a statement on the recent disturbances in Bechuanaland.
§ Commander NobleThere have been no recent disturbances in the Bechuanaland Protectorate. There was, however, a minor disturbance at a village in the Bamangwato Reserve last November. There has been no further trouble.
§ Mr. BennCan the Minister explain how it is that such reputatble newspapers as the Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mirror should both have reported very recently that there were disturbances in Bechuanaland? Will he please look again at this matter and, when looking 2078 at it again, recognise that the Bamangwato will never be at peace until Seretse Khama is returned as chief?
§ Commander NobleWhile not accepting the implication of the latter part of the supplementary question, perhaps I may give roughly the same answer to the hon. Gentleman as to his previous Question, that perhaps these reports which he has quoted were referring to the disturbance which I quoted last November.