§ 50. Mr. M. Stewartasked the Prime Minister what inquiries he was able to make, during his visit to Bermuda, into racial discrimination in that Colony, in accordance with his undertaking.
§ The Prime MinisterI found no evidence which would cause me to qualify what I said on 26th February, namely, that there is no right or privilege controlled by law which is not equally available to all Bermudians.
§ Mr. StewartWould the Prime Minister say whether he was able to find out whether the facilities of the Mid-Ocean Hotel are open to all potential customers without discrimination of race?
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir, but I had the opportunity while I was in Bermuda to entertain both white and coloured guests, and I heard no complaint of any treatment which bore unjustly upon the coloured citizens of the island. The only complaint I did hear was that there was no Income Tax.
§ Mr. G. R. StraussIs the Prime Minister aware that, although coloured guests brought by him would, of course, be accepted by the hotels of Bermuda, the normal practice for all hotels in Bermuda is to exclude coloured people, however distinguished they may be? If the right hon. Gentleman wants further confirmation, will he consult the Ministers of the Jamaican Government?
§ The Prime MinisterWhat Ministers of Governments deal with is the law, and I repeat that there is no right or privilege controlled by law which is not open to everybody in Bermuda.
§ Mr. J. GriffithsOutside the law, would not the Prime Minister deprecate any hotel refusing hospitality to Ministers of the Commonwealth?
§ The Prime MinisterThat is quite another question. All I have to deal with is what Governments are responsible for, either the Government here or the popularly elected Government of Bermuda.
§ Mr. J. GriffithsSince we are increasingly granting self-government and independence to the countries of the Commonwealth, whose Ministers will be coloured, would not the Prime Minister consider it desirable to make some form of statement that we deprecate any practice of this kind?
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."]—it is our duty as a Government here to try to do what we can, but I do not think it would be right for me to make general pronouncements on a question of this kind, particularly. after I have been the guest of the Government of Bermuda.