HC Deb 10 July 1956 vol 556 cc195-7
56. Mr. Fenner Brockway

asked the Prime Minister what conclusions were reached at the Commonwealth Ministers' Conference regarding the declared intention of the Gold Coast Government to apply for admission to the Commonwealth, and the relationship of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland to the Commonwealth.

The Prime Minister

The question of membership for the Gold Coast will arise only when the country attains full self-government. It will then be one for all member countries of the Commonwealth.

As regards the Federation, the hon. Member will have seen from the statement issued after our meeting that the Commonwealth Prime Ministers will welcome the continued participation of the Federal Prime Minister in our meetings.

Mr. Brockway

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman two Questions? In view of the reports of the Conference which have appeared, will he say whether it is the case now that a Colony which becomes an independent country shall have the right to join the Commonwealth Conference without a specific decision upon such an application? Secondly, why is it that the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland is to have the right to be represented in the Commonwealth Conference when it is not a democratic Federation, and why should it have that right any more than the West Indies or Nigeria?

The Prime Minister

I can only tell the hon. Gentleman, as regards the last part of his Question, that the Prime Ministers of the Commonwealth, as they say, taking into account the 20 years since the Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia, and, as he is now, Prime Minister of the Federation, has been with us, agreed that they would welcome the continued participation of the Prime Minister of the Federation. That seemed to me to be a reasonable and sensible arrangement, and I am glad the Prime Ministers took that view.

Mr. J. Griffiths

Will the Prime Minister make it clear that in deciding to continue that participation, it does not mean any decision by the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference that there is any change in the status of the Federation?

The Prime Minister

I think it means just exactly and precisely what it says, neither more nor less.

Mr. Dugdale

Is the Prime Minister aware that Lord Malvern was invited to the Conference only in view of his special qualifications—personal qualifications? While realising that probably no actual vote was taken at the Conference, may I ask him to say whether in fact the decision to admit the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland was taken unanimously without disagreement by any of the Prime Ministers?

The Prime Minister

There was no question of their taking decisions in that sense in the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' meeting, but the statement issued from the Conference expressed the views of each and all the Prime Ministers there present.

Mr. Brockway

On a point of order. May I ask the Prime Minister to a reply to the first of the two questions which I put, which he ignored?

Mr. Speaker

That is not a point of order.

The Prime Minister

I apologise; I forgot the question. I do not know what it was.