§ 19. Mr. Brockwayasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies on what evidence of intention to resort to violence the Union des Populations du Cameroun has been declared by the Governor-General in Council of Nigeria to be art unlawful society; and on what charges 13 leaders have been arrested and ordered to leave the country.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydIn declaring the Union des Populations du Cameroun an unlawful society and detaining some of its alien leaders with a view to deportation, the Acting Governor-General acted on the advice of the Nigerian Council of Ministers and with the full support of the Executive Council of the Southern Cameroons.
This action was in accordance with the Criminal Code and the Aliens Deportation Ordinance, and was taken after careful examination of evidence leading to the conclusion that the U.P.C. had become a serious threat to law and order in the Southern Cameroons. The Governor-General is not bound to give the evidence on which he reached his decision, and I am satisfied that it would not be in the public interest to do so.
§ Mr. BrockwayIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that many of us take a very serious view when deportations take place from Colonial Territories? Is it the case that these men and women are being deported, not because of any unlawful act, but because, to quote the words of the Extraordinary Gazette,
there now exists a grave possibility that, in order to achieve its political objectives, the party may have to resort to violence.Are we really deporting men for intentions rather than for acts?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe hon. Member works himself up into a state which would give the impression that these people are British subjects. They are aliens who have abused the hospitality of British-protected territory. I have no intention whatever of asking the Government, who have a large measure of local autonomy in the Southern Cameroons—even more as a result of the agreement I have recently made with them—to reconsider the decision they have reached.