Mr. George Houser (Refusal of Entry) (Hansard, 26 November 1957)

§ 31. Mr. Brockway
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies on what ground Mr. George Houser, Executive Director of the American Committee on Africa, Incorporated, has been placed on the list of prohibited immigrants to Uganda. Kenya and Tanganyika.

§ 56. Mr. J. Johnson
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why Mr. George Houser, an American citizen, and the Executive Director of the American Committee on Africa, has been refused permission to enter Kenya, Tanganyika and Uganda.

§ The Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. Alan Lennox-Boyd)
It is not the practice of Colonial Governments to disclose their reasons for declaring any person to be a prohibited immigrant or otherwise refusing entry into their territories.

§ Mr. Brockway
Will the right hon. Gentleman look into this case? Is he aware that Mr. George Houser is a highly respected person in America, with a strong religious background, and that in addition to the post which he holds on the American Committee on Africa, he is an officer of a committee of which 979 Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt is chairman? In view of these circumstances, will the right hon. Gentleman reconsider this matter?

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
This is the responsibility of the Governments concerned, but I have looked into the case and I entirely share the unanimous decision of the Governments concerned.

§ Mr. Johnson
Why does the Minister share this opinion? Is he aware that the Department of State in Washington has no dossier about this gentleman, and that he is by no means a Communist? He is only, if I may use the word, a pacifist, and I hope there is nothing objectionable in being a pacifist. Why is he not allowed to go into these territories?

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
In accordance with the practice which has always prevailed, and which was followed by the Labour Party when they were in power, it is not the practice to disclose the reason why Governments come to these decisions.

§ Mr. Brockway
On a point of order. In view of that unsatisfactory reply, I give notice that I shall raise this matter at the earliest opportunity on the Adjournment.