§ 37. Major Wallasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will consider moving the headquarters of the East Africa High Commission from Nairobi to some centre outside Kenya such as Entebbe.
§ Mr. HareNo, Sir. The legislation establishing the East Africa High Commission provides that its headquarters shall be at Nairobi, and that the Governor of Kenya shall be its Chairman. Nairobi is geographically midway between Dar-es-Salaam and Entebbe, and experience has shown that it provides the most convenient site for the headquarters.
§ Major WallWill not my right hon. Friend agree that in Tanganyika and Uganda more confidence would be inspired in the East African High Commission if its headquarters were not in 370 Nairobi and if the senior Governor took the chair?
§ Mr. HareI do not think that I can agree with my hon. and gallant Friend. After all, Nairobi is situated literally on the centre of the lines of communication in East Africa. In fact, for twenty years prior to the formation of the High Commission, Nairobi has been the headquarters of most of the inter-territorial services. It may be of some comfort to the hon. and gallant Member if I tell him that the High Commission does not always meet in Nairobi. Of its last two meetings, one was held in Dar-es-Salaam and the other in Entebbe.