§ 45. Mr. Stonehouseasked the Prime Minister whether the public speech of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, made at Black pool on 9th October, to the effect that Kenya is one of Britain's fortress Colonies and that it is necessary to ensure that national and nationalist problems do not conflict with this fortress rôle, represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Macmillan)My right hon. Friend was doing no more than to stress the importance of Kenya in the chain of Commonwealth defence, and the consequent need for good government in the country.
§ Mr. StonehouseIs the Prime Minister aware of the very great concern in Kenya that Kenya should be described as a fortress Colony along with Gibraltar and Cyprus? Is it to be assumed that the representations of the representatives of 99 per cent. of Kenya's population, the total population which is non-European, requesting constitutional talks, have been 1304 rejected because of strategical requirements?
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. I think everybody must recognise that the whole Commonwealth benefits from the system of Commonwealth defence.
§ Mr. G. BrownIs the Prime Minister aware that many of us are concerned about the disastrous results which seem to have flowed from a similar remark from the then Mr. Henry Hopkinson, when he was Minister of State, about Cyprus? Those who are interested in the future of the Colonies and defence get terrified when we see remarks like those made, because they cause a good deal of trouble afterwards, which gets in the way.
§ The Prime MinisterThere is no question of the progress of a country to self- government being in any way impeded or retarded by the value of the area from the Commonwealth defence point of view.